Rochester Officials, Advocates Push Back Against RG&E Rate Hike Proposal

Rochester Gas & Electric’s bid to raise electricity and gas delivery rates by double digits has sparked a wave of opposition from city leaders, community advocates and residents who say the proposal would deepen financial hardships for families already stretched thin.

Members of Metro Justice in front of City Hall, Tuesday protesting RG&E rate increase

RG&E is seeking a 26 percent increase in electric delivery rates and a 22.2 percent hike for natural gas, adding about $52 a month to the average household bill. The company says the increases are needed to modernize aging infrastructure and meet surging demand, citing an 83 percent jump in load requests since 2022.

At a public hearing this week hosted by the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC), City Council President Miguel Meléndez Jr. said while upgrades are necessary, RG&E’s plan leans too heavily on customers.

“While I oppose RG&E’s proposed rate increases for many reasons, I recognize that our community’s aging infrastructure does require investment,” Meléndez said. “However, we must find smarter, more sustainable ways to generate and deliver local energy rather than relying on costly delivery models.”

Meléndez said he and fellow councilmembers will introduce a resolution urging the PSC to deny the increases.

Councilmember Michael Patterson, representing Rochester’s Northeast District, said the hikes would force impossible choices. “My constituents are already making impossible decisions every day between paying the bills that keep a roof over their heads and feeding themselves and their children,” Patterson said. “The last thing they need is to have RG&E make those decisions even harder.”

Councilmembers Mitch Gruber and Bridget Monroe also condemned the proposal, with Gruber questioning why customers should shoulder costs when RG&E revenues are growing. Monroe noted that Gov. Kathy Hochul has called for close scrutiny of utility rate requests and pointed to a recent state audit that flagged problems with RG&E’s reporting of customer service performance.

Community groups joined the pushback. Metro Justice and its Rochester for Energy Democracy (RED) campaign argued the hikes are unjust, pointing to more than 13,000 shutoffs in 2024 — triple the previous year — even as company profits rose to $122 million. The group is pressing city and county leaders to study the creation of a publicly owned utility to ensure accountability and affordability.

RG&E, meanwhile, sought to highlight ongoing investments. The company announced this week a $17.6 million upgrade to Substation 51 in Irondequoit, which powers more than 2,000 customers including Seabreeze Amusement Park. “These investments will enhance capabilities for residential and commercial customers,” said Larissa Rosario, RG&E business unit manager.

The work, set to begin this fall and finish in late 2026, is part of more than $200 million in upgrades RG&E says it has invested regionally since 2023.

The PSC will hold additional hearings in Ithaca on Oct. 8 and online Oct. 21. Public comments are due by Oct. 24 before regulators issue a decision.