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Dear Friends,
The fall is always a beautiful time here in the Hudson Valley and I hope you and your families are making the most of it and enjoying the many wonderful outdoor events we have here in Westchester. As the temperatures begin to drop, many of us have started turning on the heat in our homes and with that comes higher utility bills.
I am proud to be a leader in the fight against outrageous utility bills that place unjust burdens on our families – and I will continue that fight until the people are put before profits. In the State Senate, I’ve introduced and passed legislation to reform the Public Service Commission’s decision-making process. While the fight to make those bills law continues, so will my efforts to increase transparency and accountability, and to better protect consumers from unfair and unjust rate hikes.
I wanted to take an opportunity to remind you how you can use your voice to speak out against the proposed rate hikes.
If there is anything my office can assist you with, please email me at smayer@nysenate.gov or call (914) 934-5250.
Warm regards,
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Shelley B. Mayer
State Senator
37th District
| | TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO SIGN UP TO TESTIFY AGAINST NYSEG RATE INCREASE | | |
Importantly, for those of you who are in the northern region of my district and receive their utility from NYSEG – the Public Service Commission will hold two opportunities to testify virtually on October 21. However, TODAY is the deadline to register to testify. Click here to sign up to testify.
For those who cannot attend or prefer not to comment at the public hearings, comments can also be provided by internet, mail, or telephone. All comments should refer “Case 25-E-0375 – NYSEG Electric,” “Case 25-G-0378 – NYSEG Gas,” “Case 25-E-0379 - RG&E Electric,” or “Case 25-G-0380 - RG&E Gas.” You have until October 24 to submit testimony virtually, by mail, or by phone.
- To submit online:
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Go to www.dps.ny.gov, click on “File Search” (located under the heading “Commission Files”), enter the applicable case number in the “Search by Case Number” box, and then click on “Post Comments” at the top right of the page.
- To submit via mail:
- Comments may be mailed to the Hon. Michelle L. Phillips, Secretary, Public Service Commission, 3 Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York, 12223-1350.
- Electronic filing of comments is strongly encouraged.
- To submit over the phone:
- Call the Commission’s Opinion Line at 1-800-335-2120. This number is set up to receive in-State calls 24-hours a day.
- These comments are not transcribed verbatim, but a summary is provided to the Commission.
Click here for more information.
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What You Can Do to Oppose Con Ed’s
Rate Increase Application
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Submit Comments to the Public Service Commission
- Comments can be provided by internet, mail, or telephone. All comments should refer to “Case 25-E-0072” or “Case 25-G-0073” and must be submitted no later than November 21, 2025
- Any interested individual or interested group can write and submit the comments.
- To submit online:
- Go to www.dps.ny.gov, click on “File Search” (located under the heading “Commission Files”), enter “25-E-0072” or “25-G-0073” in the “Search by Case Number” box, and then click on “Post Comments” at the top of the page.
- To submit via mail:
- Comments may be mailed to the Hon. Michelle L. Phillips, Secretary, Public Service Commission, 3 Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York, 12223-1350.
- Electronic filing of comments is strongly encouraged.
- To submit over the phone:
- Call the Commission’s Opinion Line at 1-800-335-2120. This number is set up to receive in-State calls 24-hours a day.
- These comments are not transcribed verbatim, but a summary is provided to the Commission.
- Email the PSC Chair and Commissioners and state your strong objection to the proposed rate increase.
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Chair Rory Christian – Rory.Christian@dps.ny.gov
- Commissioner James S. Alesi – james.alesi@dps.ny.gov
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Commissioner David J. Valesky – david.valesky@dps.ny.gov
- Commissioner John Maggiore – john.maggiore@dps.ny.gov
- Commissioner Denise Sheehan – denise.sheehan@dps.ny.gov
- Commissioner Uchenna S. Bright – uchenna.bright@dps.ny.gov
- Commissioner Radina Valova – radina.valova@dps.ny.gov
| | Mayer-Sponsored Legislation to Combat Unjust and Excessive Utility Rate Hikes and Reform the Ratemaking Process | | |
Highlighted below are bills that I introduced and passed in the New York State Senate this past legislative session. Unfortunately, none of them passed the Assembly. I encourage you to call your Assembly Member and urge them to support and prioritize these bills in the coming year. If you are unsure who your State Assembly Member is, click here.
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My bill, S.3734, would prevent utility companies from recovering executive salaries greater than the Governor’s salary (currently $250,000) or legal fees and other costs incurred during their participation in the rate case in excess of $100,000 from rate payers. This bill has moved through the Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee.
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My bill, the “Make Whole” bill, S.S5593, would address and mitigate the financial burdens placed on consumers when rate cases exceed the allowable timeframe. This bill would limit the ability of utilities to retroactively recover increased rates from ratepayers in those cases.
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I recently introduced a bill, (S7693), that would require utilities to return every penny in profits in excess of their approved rate of return on equity back to the consumer.
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My bill, S.1896, that will prioritize New Yorkers’ right to have stable utility rates that are as low as possible, passed the Senate for the third year in a row this session. It would require the Public Service Commission (PSC) to determine rates in a fairer, more transparent manner that puts the interest of ratepayers ahead of the for-profit utility company. In order to do this, the bill targets key elements of the rate setting process (the rate of return on equity and common equity ratio) to rein in the profits utility companies earn at the expense of ratepayers. This will ensure utility companies are not earning an excessive return at the expense of ratepayers.
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My bill, S.1701, would hold utility companies more accountable when they fail to prepare for and respond to storms. This bill will give the PSC more flexibility to levy penalties on violations by expanding emergency response plan requirements. This bill passed the Senate five times, but has yet to pass in the Assembly.
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