New York state’s Public Service Commission today holds the first of three planned Westchester public hearing sessions on the rate hike cases filed by Con Edison. The July 8 hearing sessions take place at the Cortlandt Town Hall, 1 Heady St., in Cortlandt Manor at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. On July 9, there will be sessions at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. at the Westchester County Center in White Plains.
Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins planned to testify in-person at the July 8 afternoon hearing and was expected to voice the county’s strong opposition to proposed rate increases by Con Edison. Jenkins was among those who pressed the PSC to schedule public hearings in Westchester, rather than just allowing Westchester residents to comment during virtual hearings held on the internet.
Jenkins previously testified at a virtual PSC hearing. He recently signed legislation officially making Westchester a party to the state’s major rate case.
“The proposed Con Edison rate increases are unfair, unaffordable and unacceptable,” Jenkins has said. “Families across Westchester are being pushed to the breaking point. Seniors on fixed incomes, working parents and small business owners cannot afford to pay more for an essential service while wages stay flat and inflation rises. Forcing people to choose between heating their homes and putting food on the table is simply wrong.”
Con Edison filed for rate increases on Jan. 31 of this year. The utility proposed to increase its annual electric and gas delivery revenues for the 12-month period ending Dec. 31, 2026. Con Edison proposes to increase its electric delivery revenues by approximately $1.6 billion, an 11.4% increase in total revenues or an 18% increase in base delivery revenues. It proposed to increase its natural gas delivery revenues by approximately $440 million, a 13.3% increase in total revenues or an 18.8% increase in base delivery revenues.
Other PSC hearings on the proposed Con Ed rate hikes are scheduled for: today, July 8, at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. at Manhattan Community College; July 9 at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. at Brooklyn Borough Hall; July 10 at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. at C.W. Mixon Center in Queens Village; July 10 at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. at Residence Inn – Marriott at 1776 Eastchester Blvd. in the Bronx; and July 22 at 6 p.m. at JCC of Staten Island.
