Frustration over soaring Con Edison bills has reached a boiling point among Rye residents, who rallied alongside state and local officials last week to demand lower prices.
With bills so high — and Con Ed now requesting another rate increase — some residents are saying they are forced to make choices between basic necessities and keeping their homes warm.
“My Con Ed bill was $2,800!!!!” Rye resident Gina Imperato posted online. “They’re like the mafia. It really is criminal.”
At the rally, State Sen. Shelley Mayer condemned the rising costs and the disproportionate burden placed on working families.
“Every day, I hear from constituents struggling with utility bills from Con Edison — often sharing bills that are not reflective of actual usage and good faith efforts to keep costs down,” Mayer said. “Particularly, the delivery costs, which are the regulated portion of the bill, are often double to triple the cost of their usage.”
Mayer pointed to Lucia Alfano, a single mother and nurse, who shared her story of being forced to choose between heating her home and buying food for her children.
Alfano also noted that many of her patients struggle to afford medications because of the financial strain imposed by their Con Edison bills.
In response to the backlash, Con Edison cited efforts to assist customers.
“We are acutely aware of the affordability challenge,” said a spokesperson for Con Edison. “That’s why last year, we provided more than $300 million in energy assistance for customers with a low-income. We are committed to enrolling as many eligible customers into our program and will continue advocating for policies that make utility bills more affordable.”
Westchester County Legislator Catherine Parker accused Con Ed of prioritizing shareholders over consumers.
“I have been saying for many years that Con Ed seems only beholden to the shareholders and the C-Suite, not the consumers,” Parker said at the rally. “The best thing that anyone can do for themselves if they do not like being at the mercy of Con Ed is to install renewable energy and make sure they have an efficient system.”
Meighan Corbett, a Rye resident, emailed Mayer and State Assemblyman Steve Otis, and advised others online to make their feelings known by throwing “around words like extortion and highway robbery.”
Otis also voiced his opposition to Con Edison’s proposed rate increase, emphasizing the need for structural reform.
“While rates have risen nationwide, the bigger concern for customers has been the steep hikes in the delivery charges and the cost of maintaining and operating the system,” Otis said. “Utilities should not be allowed to use their monopoly status to pass all operation costs to consumers and shield the company from responsibility for expenses owners of other businesses would share.”
Con Ed’s spokesman added: “We are committed to being good stewards of our customers’ dollars and working with policymakers on solutions that balance affordability with the need to continue to safely and efficiently deliver the nation’s most reliable power while complying with state laws and regulations.”
Despite those assurances, lawmakers are pressing for policy changes to protect ratepayers.
Mayer has introduced legislation to cap how much of executive salaries and legal costs utilities can pass on to consumers.
She also is co-sponsoring the New York HEAT Act, which would cap residential energy bills at six percent of income and reduce the burden of maintaining outdated gas infrastructure.
Mayer urged residents to call the governor’s office and the Public Service Commission to voice their opposition to the proposed rate hike.
“We cannot stop putting the pressure on the PSC and Con Edison,” Mayer said. “Insist they reject any rate increase.”
