ROCHESTER, N.Y. — RG&E and NYSEG have asked NYS regulators for approval to increase the delivery charge for natural gas and electricity.

The utility companies have submitted requests to the New York State Public Service Commission, the agency that regulates them.

Here’s what RG&E is requesting:

• Natural gas: $18.87 per month (22.2% increase)
• Electric: $33.01 per month (26% increase)

Here’s what NYSEG is requesting:

• Natural Gas: $33.57 per month (33.5% increase)
• Electric: $33.12 per month (23.7%)

The companies say they have thousands of miles of wire, aging substations, and utility poles over 40 years old that need to be modernized. They also say they need to increase capacity to serve new business and support state electric mandates.

The rate increase proposal reflects a one-year rate case. Both companies have also provided five years of data that can be used to determine revenue requirements to support a settlement of up to five years.

In a statement, Gov. Kathy Hochul called on the Public Service Commission to scrutinize the proposed rate hikes. The statement reads:

“At a time when New Yorkers are struggling to meet everyday costs, New York State Electric and Gas (NYSEG) and the Rochester Gas and Electric Corporation (RG&E) must find a way to avoid these unacceptably high rate hikes. I am calling on the Department of Public Service to scrutinize these proposals to ensure these companies have the resources to keep our energy grid going but are not making additional profit off the backs of ratepayers.”

Assemblyman Jeff Gallahan (R, Manchester) called on the PSC to reject the proposal. He tells News10NBC in a statement, “I’ve personally heard from countless constituents who are already struggling to keep up with skyrocketing utility bills…They simply cannot afford another increase. If this rate hike is approved, many will be forced to choose between heating their homes or putting food on the table. Some may even be left without heat or power altogether.” He went on to criticize Governor Hochul directly, “Governor Hochul’s fast-tracked all-electric mandate is a one-size-fits-all disaster, it drives costs even higher for builders and families and puts further strain on an electric grid that is already under pressure, especially in rural communities.”

As News10NBC has covered, the Public Service Commission approved a three-year rate hike plan for RG&E and NYSEG back in October of 2023, but only by half of what the utilities originally requested. In May, the utility companies entered the third year of that plan, raising their rates.

News10NBC has covered dozens of major customer service and billing issues at both utilities over the past several years. During that time, News10NBC Investigative Reporter Jennifer Lewke discovered top executives were still earning bonuses.

Just last month, the New York State Public Service Commission fined RG&E and NYSEG millions of dollars for failing to meet customer service benchmarks. The original fine for RG&E was nearly $5 million, but it was doubled to $9.8 million due to last year’s unmet benchmarks. The fine was ordered to be credited back to customers and reinvested into improving performance.

Read RG&E and NYSEG’s filing to the New York State Public Service Commission here: