New York’s Public Service Commission approved a substantial National Grid rate hike to begin next month adding $33 to the average bill now and $60 in total in three years. New York’s Green New Deal mandates along with infrastructure repairs are driving the cost increases, says National Grid.
The average residential gas customer bill will increase by $33.35 a month (22%) starting in September. The bill will go up another $8.19 a month in 2025 (4.39%) and another $18.81 a month (9.17%) in 2026. By September 2026, consumers will pay $60 more each month for basic electricity.
This amounts to more than $300 more a year for the coming year. In three years when the entire rate hikes kick in, households will pay about $720 more in just their electric bill every year. This is a huge burden when taken together with rising prices for every other basic need coming along with it.
“In this bad economy, with working families already under pressure from inflation and high food prices, the last thing they need is to pay hundreds of dollars more for fuel and electricity,” said Assemblyman Joseph DeStefano. “This is a direct result of Bidenomics and the Biden-Harris attack on fossil fuels. How do they expect people to afford to cook their food and heat their homes?”
The New York State Public Service Commission said that the approved rates are 37% lower than what National Grid originally requested.
“NY is preparing for a double-digit rate hike for utilities this summer. The state's climate change initiatives & Green Energy goals will cost consumers billions. There’s no limit on what residents will be forced to pay,” Says Icbergz99 on X.
At a time when average Americans are suffering under a poor economy with high interest rates, high insurance rates, high gas prices, and food prices up over 20%, the last thing families’ need is $60 more each month in the cost of basic electricity.
"I don't want to vote yes," PSC commissioner John Maggiore said. "I don't want to raise anyone's rates. However, as I search the record, I don't see anything to justify a no vote."
Still others are opposed to the rate hike for other reasons, they don’t want any investments in natural gas infrastructure no matter that natural gas currently makes 45.6% of New York’s electricity and over 60% rely on natural gas for home heating.
Marie French said, “NY Public Service Commission approved National Grid downstate gas rate increase today. Opponents briefly disrupted the meeting, raising climate concerns with continued funding of gas infrastructure.”