More than 70 elected officials across the New York City Council, the state Senate and Assembly are urging the state Public Service Commission to reject Con Edison’s proposal to raise electric and gas rates.
In a letter sent to the state’s utility price regulatory body on Monday, the coalition argues that approving the three-year proposal would deepen the affordability crisis, ultimately pushing more New Yorkers into utility debt. The letter was shared first with City & State.
Con Edison’s latest proposal to raise electricity and gas rates is far less than the initial double-digit one put forward early last year, but that hasn’t stopped it from garnering fresh waves of outrage from Westchester County and New York City-based elected officials. For the average bill, there would be a 3.5% electric and 4.4% gas increase in rates for 2026, a 3.2% electric increase and a 5.7% gas increase for 2027 and a 3.1% electric increase and a 5.6% gas increase for 2028 if ultimately approved by the Public Service Commission. The commission’s next meeting is Jan. 22.
“As elected officials, it is our duty to represent the best interests of our constituents,” the letter reads. “We have heard from our constituents, and they are struggling with utility bills that have skyrocketed, sometimes doubling or tripling in recent years.”
A broad spectrum of Democrats and Republicans signed onto the letter, which raised concerns about the impact of rising utility bills on small businesses, seniors and working families. In the legislature, that effort is being helmed by Assembly Members Chris Burdick, MaryJane Shimsky and Dana Levenberg along with state Sen. Shelley Mayer. Newly sworn in New York City Council member Harvey Epstein is also leading the charge, helping unify his former colleagues in the legislature with his new colleagues in the council.
The issue has forged unusual allies. Coming out of their first meeting at the White House in November, President Donald Trump and then New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani agreed Con Edison needs to bring rates down. The utility giant has attributed rising costs to higher property taxes, the need to meet the state’s clean energy goals and investments to strengthen the grid against extreme weather.
Pointing to the proposal’s 9.4% return on equity rate – higher than previous increases – the letter urges the commission to reduce it to “a more appropriate level” in light of current market conditions. “Our residents and business owners should not be asked to shoulder these unaffordable proposed rates while shareholders receive guaranteed returns that exceed what’s reasonable,” the letter reads. “Even for those who are managing to stay current on their bills, these rates are a major part of the affordability crisis that is forcing workers and their families out of our state.”
On Monday morning, Epstein also plans to host a rally with his fellow council members and activists outside of Con Edison headquarters in New York City to urge the Public Service Commission to reject the proposal. A similar effort hosted by lawmakers will unfold simultaneously in Albany.
