Staff Reports
A Niagara County lawmaker has launched a petition drive in an effort to prevent New York State Electric and Gas from winning approval for proposed hikes in residential electricity and natural gas heating rates.
Legislator Gerald Farnham, R-Pendleton, has collected signatures from residents whose bills would be impacted by the proposed rate hikes which still must be approved by the state’s Public Service Commission.
His petition urges the state regulatory commission to outright rejects NYSEG’s request to boost electric rates by 18.6 percent and natural gas heating rates by 17.4 percent.
“These petitions are going to be produced at the hearings at the Public Service Commission and the signatures are going to speak for themselves,” Farnham said.
The Niagara County Legislature previously approved a resolution opposing the increases.
Farnham said he will be distributing copies of his petition to fellow lawmakers and residents are encouraged to contact their county legislator if they wish to sign.
“NYSEG proposes a nearly 20 percent rate hike,” Farnham said. “Twenty percent in this economy, 20 percent in this day and age — especially for the fixed income people, is unacceptable.”
