Queens Politicians Cry Foul Over Con Ed Rate Hike Request
New York, NY —
Local politicians are reacting with outrage now that Con Edison has asked New York state regulators for a nearly 12 per cent hike in its electricity rates.
REPORTER: Con Ed says it needs the revenue to help sustain its grid, and to create energy efficiency and conservation programs. Councilman Eric Gioia, whose district in northwest Queens suffered a nine day blackout last summer, doesn't buy it.
GIOIA: If they were doing a good job, they'd say they need to raise the rates to continue doing a good job. Well, they've done a lousy job, so now they're saying they need a raise to prevent them doing a lousy job. The only people who lose are rate payers.
Fellow Queens Councilman Peter Vallone Junior says the rate hike will only benefit shareholders, not customers. The state's public service commission will hold public hearings before it makes a decision on Con Ed's request.
