Rally against proposed National Grid price increase

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10)—Upstate National Grid customers could see an increase to their utility bills if a proposal gets approved by the New York State Public Service Commission. The proposal was announced back in May.

“It would impact customers on a monthly basis between 15 and 20 percent, depending on whether you’re an electricity customer or a natural gas customer, or both,” explained Patrick Stella, a spokesperson for National Grid. “That rate prediction is based on a one-year rate increase.”

Stella said prices have gone up across the board and the proposal includes line maintenance.

Bob Cohen, Policy and Research Director for Citizen Action, attended a rally in Albany opposing National Grid rate hikes. He said the upstate proposal equates to hundreds of dollars a year for the average electric and gas customer.

“$400 dollars a year speaks for itself in a period where people are struggling,” said Cohen. “Inflation has come down, but still people are still facing high prices for groceries.”

According to Stella, there’s a possibility the proposal could change.

“One of the things that we will be doing over the next 11 months as we negotiate this and talk to the Public Service Commission about the rate case, is talk about maybe being able to stretch that out though multiple years, which would reduce that monthly cost.”

A public comment period is expected to take place. The final proposal is planned to go before the Public Service Commission for approval in the spring.

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