Rising electricity costs and grid reliability concerns took center stage at the State Capitol, where Republican lawmakers warned that state energy policies are driving up bills for Long Island families and small businesses.
Residential electricity prices have climbed 47.1 percent since 2019, a spike described as unsustainable for working households already grappling with inflation. “This isn’t theoretical, this is showing up in people’s mailboxes every month,” said Assemblyman Joe DeStefano. “When utility bills jump nearly 50% in just a few years, that’s not a minor adjustment. That’s a crisis.”
Concerns over grid stability were also raised, pointing to warnings from the New York Independent System Operator about maintaining reliability as traditional power sources are retired. Assembly GOP Leader Ed Ra joined colleagues in arguing that affordability and reliability must be prioritized alongside environmental goals.
Criticism focused on the Democrat’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), including restrictions on natural gas and electrification mandates that opponents say are increasing costs. DeStefano called for a reassessment of the state’s approach to ensure energy remains dependable and reasonably priced. “The goal should be stability,” he said. “Stable supply, stable prices and a stable grid. Long Island families need predictability, not policy experiments.”
The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) echoed the affordability concerns, noting that when the CLCPA was enacted in 2019, no comprehensive fiscal analysis was completed to measure the impact on small businesses and ratepayers. A recent analysis by NYSERDA indicates a small business could see annual costs rise by nearly $7,000 by 2031 if current mandates continue. NFIB warned that Main Street businesses cannot absorb such increases and urged lawmakers to revisit and amend the law before additional costs further strain families, employers, and the state economy.
To damper the impacts, Republicans proposed rebate checks of up to $400 for eligible ratepayers, returning surplus clean energy funds to customers as credits on utility bills, expanding the POWER UP grant program to accelerate reliable energy development, halting the natural gas ban and zero-emission school bus mandate, and reinvesting in natural gas plants slated for retirement.