More than 60 Northern Westchester residents slammed rising energy costs at the Westchester County Board of Legislators’ final New York State Electric and Gas (NYSEG) Public Input Session at the Heritage Hills Activities Center on Tuesday night.

The Board hosted this meeting in a community popular among retirees, where most residents reported electric bills doubling or tripling over six years. Residents repeatedly denounced NYSEG’s poor service, confusing billing, and dismissive employee responses. 

Board Chairman Vedat Gashi (D- New Castle, Ossining, Somers, Yorktown), Legislator Erika L. Pierce (D- Bedford, Lewisboro, Mount Kisco, North Salem, Pound Ridge, Somers), and Legislator Jewel Williams Johnson (D- Elmsford, Greenburgh, Tarrytown, White Plains) listened intently to residents’ concerns. Gashi and Pierce represent NYSEG service areas, while Williams Johnson attended in solidarity despite her district being served by Con Edison.

Somers Town Board Councilman Anthony J. Cirieco joined legislators as residents took turns voicing concern about not being able to pay bills that have increased consistently over the last six years. One NYSEG customer said, “I never saw this charge in 40 years living in Somers. These creative charges: Mech, SBC, Recovery!”

Another resident, struggling to afford her power bill, quipped, “I might get married again to pay half the bill.” The lighthearted moment punctuated an evening in which another resident spoke of needing electricity to power a family member’s medical equipment and others reported hundreds of dollars in charges even when away for the whole winter.

NYSEG is proposing excessive delivery rate hikes that would drive up average residential electricity bills by 23.7% and gas bills by 33.5% in 2026. The Board is taking action against these outrageous proposed increases. In August, the Board approved the County’s intervention in NYSEG’s rate case before the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC), ensuring residents have a meaningful voice in energy cost decisions. Statements made at the Public Input Sessions will be submitted to the PSC.

Residents are encouraged to also submit written comments directly to the PSC at the Department of Public Service website here.

As the PSC will not be holding in-person hearings in Westchester, the Board urges County NYSEG ratepayers to participate in virtual hearings on October 21 at 1 PM or 6 PM. Follow this link to register.

The meeting replay is posted here.

Learn more here about the Board’s fight against NYSEG rate hikes.