Congressional Dems urge NY utility regulator to reject Con Ed's double-digit rate hike

Seven Democrats in New York's congressional delegation are urging the state Public Service Commission to reject Con Edison’s request to hike its rates by double-digit percentages next year, citing ongoing affordability issues in the state.

In a letter sent last week, Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Nydia Velázquez, Ritchie Torres, Grace Meng, Jerrold Nadler, Adriano Espaillat and Dan Goldman said ConEd should “return to the drawing board to identify a better proposal.”

The pushback comes after the utility giant last month requested approval to increase customers’ electric bills by an average of 11.4% and gas bills by 13.3% at the start of 2026, with a plan to use the money to expand and maintain its infrastructure.

The proposal kicks off a lengthy process called a "rate case," during which Con Ed presents its rationale to state regulators and interested parties weigh in. Oftentimes a utility will come in high with their proposed number and the state will knock it down a few points. The congressmembers are urging the Public Service Commission to be more aggressive than usual.

“While Con Edison reported higher-than-expected profits in Q3 2024, working-class New Yorkers are already struggling with extraordinary burdens due to years of high prices,” the Congressmembers wrote in the letter. “These rate hikes will only make it harder to make ends meet, or worse, lead to devastating shutoffs.”

Con Ed's proposal includes plans to build a clean energy hub in Brooklyn, a substation complex in Queens and a pilot electrification program for multi-unit buildings. But the rate hikes the company requested received backlash from clean energy advocates and public officials alike.

In a statement sent to Gothamist, ConEd spokesperson Anne Marie Corbalis said the company is “acutely aware of the issue of affordability,” pointing to the discounts it provides to low-income customers.

“We also have a responsibility to continue to safely and efficiently deliver the nation’s most reliable power while complying with state laws and regulations,” Corbalis said in the statement. “That means fortifying the grid in the face of increasingly severe weather, supporting the state’s clean energy goals, and the workforce we need to conduct ongoing maintenance and swiftly respond to customer service calls.”