Opposing ConEd's rate increase

To the editor:

My latest Con Edison electric bill was a real stunner: Between 40 and 50 percent above the previous bill, although only a tiny bit more kilowatts had been used.

We customers got an email from that august company explaining that it had passed on the raised costs of the electricity from its suppliers. So in its legal framework, ConEd is allowed to pass raised supply costs to its customers without a formal application to the Public Service Commission for a rate rise.

ConEd had the chutzpah to insert a notice of application to the PSC for a 2023 rate increase in with the same heightened bill. The rationales for this application in the insert are very interesting: “These rate requests will help fund our clean energy commitment in support of New York state’s climate goals, and enable us to strengthen and upgrade our infrastructure. They will also give customers convenient access to energy-saving products, enhance safety and reliability, and make it easier for customers to get information about their energy use.”

Strengthening and upgrading infrastructure are capital expenses and should not go into determination of rates. Much of the clean energy commitment may also be a capital expense. Capital expenses are supposed to be funded with bond sales, not rate increases. Legitimate components of rates are operations and maintenance of facilities, not major restructuring of existing or building of new facilities.

ConEd also wants to use increased rates to sell us “energy-saving products.” Thus, we would pay the company to raise more money off us. Enhancing safety and reliability may also be capital expenses, but we really don’t know how ConEd means to effect this enhancement.

The rationales for the proposed rate increase need a much better explanation. Until we get that better explanation, we should oppose the increase.

Deborah Wallace

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