The Steuben County Legislature is demanding immediate action to address sharply rising electric delivery charges affecting residents, seniors, and small businesses across the county.
Lawmakers say local ratepayers are facing repeated and compounding increases in their electricity bills, driven by delivery fees and approved rate adjustments rather than higher usage. Rural communities are being hit particularly hard, with escalating costs straining household budgets and the local economy.
The Legislature passed a resolution urging the New York State Public Service Commission to investigate delivery charges, enforce stronger cost controls, and improve transparency in utility rate approvals. It also calls on the PSC to prioritize affordability and require NYSEG to demonstrate measurable cost-containment before any future rate increases.
“Part of the PSC’s responsibility is to ensure that our electric service is provided at just and reasonable rates,” said Kelly Fitzpatrick, chair of the Steuben County Legislature. “What is currently happening in our state is making utility bills completely unaffordable to families. This must be investigated.”
New York State Electric and Gas Corporation issued the following statement regarding Steuben County’s action:
“Electric utilities in New York are among the most heavily regulated entities in the state. Our operations, finances, and decisions are continually reviewed by the Department of Public Service, independent auditors, and the Public Service Commission, and our books are always open. Every dollar we spend, every investment we make, and every rate we propose goes through a transparent regulatory process. Thanks to this oversight, our delivery rates have remained relatively flat since 2025, providing stability on the portion of the bill we control.
By contrast, the state’s unregulated energy supply companies operate without the same level of oversight or public accountability. Supply prices, one of the largest drivers of customer bills, can rise significantly with little to no notice, and with no transparency into underlying cost drivers, including the cost to generate that energy. In fact, supply costs have doubled since 2020. This gap has real consequences for customers and is a major reason bills fluctuate.
We welcome efforts to shed light on the factors driving increased energy costs, including state programs and unregulated supply costs, to ensure all customers have clear and accurate information about what appears on their bill.”
