Gov. Cuomo urged the state’s utility watchdog agency to reject Con Edison’s plan to boost electric, gas and steam rates next year.
Con Ed requested authority from the Public Service Commission to increase electric delivery rates by 8 percent, gas rates by 2.5 percent and steam by 2.3 percent.
“With the anniversary of Superstorm Sandy approaching and the recent power outage on the Metro-North’s New Haven line that inconvenienced tens of thousands of commuters,” Cuomo said in a letter to PSC commissioners, “it’s clear that now is not the time for Con Edison to demand that its customers pay more.”
Cuomo, who is running for re-election next year, said Con Ed customers already pay among the highest electricity rates in the country.
The PSC members, who serve six-year, fixed terms, are appointed by the governor.
PSC staffers have already recommended that any increase should be “substantially lower” than sought by Con Ed.