Valentine's Day protest dubbed 'No love for Con Edison' held at Westchester County Center
The protest was held by local politicians and community members at the Westchester County Center to rally against Con Edison's proposed rate hikes, and delivery rates.
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A protest was held in response to a proposed rate hike that would cause both gas and electric rates on average to increase.
The protest was held by local politicians and community members at the Westchester County Center to rally against Con Edison's proposed rate hikes, and delivery rates.
The proposed hike, which came out this past January, would result in an average electric bill increase of 11.4%, and an average gas bill increase of 13.3 %, according to Con Edison.
Speakers argued the delivery rates, which need to be approved by the New York State Public Service Commission, are already astronomical.
Hartsdale resident Joel Wurzler says he has been advocating for lower delivery rates since 2019.
"You've got this monopoly, and these guys are making millions and millions of dollars every year off the backs of every rate payer in the county," Wurzler said.
There were about 120 people at the protest.
If the proposed rate hike is approved, it would not begin until next January.
A spokesperson with Con Edison responded to the protest saying:
“Con Edison is acutely aware of the issue of affordability, which is why last year we invested $300 million in energy assistance programs for low-income customers. We will continue enrolling all eligible customers, and advocate for policy changes to make utility bills more affordable. We also have a responsibility to continue to safely and efficiently deliver the nation’s most reliable power while complying with state laws and regulations. That means fortifying the grid in the face of increasingly severe weather, supporting the state’s clean energy goals, and the workforce we need to conduct ongoing maintenance and swiftly respond to customer service calls. Con Edison stands ready to work with stakeholders and the public to balance all of these priorities and continue to deliver safe and reliable power while using our customers’ dollars as efficiently as possible.”
