“Broken System” Decried by Legislator Erika Pierce at Sixth Public hearing about Con Edison’s Proposed Rate hikes
Legislator Erika Pierce gathered nine of her seventeen colleagues from the Westchester Board of Legislators to the Mt Kisco Library to listen to the public at the sixth public hearing about the rate hikes that Con Ed has proposed to the state board that regulates that utility.
Members of the public, officials, and labor union members spoke out against Con Ed’s proposed increases.
“Supply and Delivery are separate.” said Legislator Pierce. Supply is the price of electricity and gas which is affected by market conditions and supplier choice. Delivery pays for infrastructure, grid maintenance, and upgrades. Utility companies are only allowed to make unregulated profit only on the delivery portion.
Pierce remarked:
“It doesn’t matter if you’re wearing your down parka in the house, if the delivery charge is the thing that’s impossible for you to pay, you could have your thermostat off and you’re still going to get that same bill. That’s how broken this situation is.”
