Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins says that the state’s Public Service Commission has agreed to hold a public hearing in Westchester on the proposed Con Edison rate hikes following his offer of the County Center as a venue. In a letter to the Administrative Law Judges overseeing the rate case, Jenkins formally requested a local hearing.
“If Con Edison truly believes this rate hike is justified, they should look the people of Westchester in the eye and explain why,” Jenkins said. “Residents and business owners deserve the opportunity to ask questions, get answers, and be heard not just on paper, not just online, but face to face.”
Jenkins was among those who have already testified at a virtual hearing held by the PSC.
A group of 38 Westchester municipalities has been formed to oppose the rate hikes. The consortium has retained Joel Dichter of Dichter Law LLC to represent its interests before the PSC.
The municipalities are: Ardsley, Bedford, Briarcliff, Buchanan, Cortlandt, Croton-on-Hudson, Dobbs Ferry, Eastchester, Elmsford, Greenburgh, Hastings, Irvington, Mamaroneck Town, Mamaroneck Village, Mt. Vernon, New Castle, New Rochelle, Ossining Town, Ossining Village, Peekskill, Pelham Manor, Pelham Town, Pelham Village, Port Chester, Rye Brook, Rye City, Rye Town, Scarsdale, Tarrytown, Yonkers, and Yorktown. Expected to join the consortium are Bronxville, Mt. Pleasant, North Castle, Pleasantville, Sleepy Hollow, Tuckahoe, and White Plains.
“Our communities must stand together to protect our residents and businesses from these excessive rate hikes,” said Shawyn Patterson-Howard, Mt. Vernon mayor and president of the Westchester Municipal Officials Association representing the municipal consortium. “By joining forces, we will seek to ensure that our voices are heard and that any approved rate changes are fair and just.”
