Ocasio-Cortez Leads NY Democrats in Pushing State Commission to Reject Con Edison’s Double Digit Rate Hike
Press Release
Con Edison is seeking to raise electric rates by 18% and natural gas delivery rates by 18.8% for New Yorkers, even while the company reports increased profits
BRONX, N.Y. - Today, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) led a letter alongside nearly every Democrat in Con Edison service territory to the New York State Department of Public Service asking the Public Service Commission to reject Con Edison’s requests to increase electricity rates by 18% and gas rates by 18.8% for working New Yorkers.
“We strongly urge the Public Service Commission to stand up for our constituents and reject Con Edison's rate hike request. Rapidly rising utility bills are not sustainable and will only result in even more customers falling behind on their bills or, worse, facing potential service termination,” wrote the lawmakers.
Con Edison is requesting a rate hike while simultaneously reporting increased profits. This comes at a time when current energy prices are already causing families to fall behind on their bills and have their power shut off. Con Edison's own numbers show that in June 2025, 371,720 residential accounts were behind on their bills for a total of $838 million in arrears. Con Edison also sent over 120,000 final termination notices, while conducting over 16,000 disconnections for nonpayment.
The public comment can be found here.
In addition to Representative Ocasio-Cortez, the public comment was also co-signed by Representatives Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Daniel Goldman (NY-10), George Latimer (NY-16), Gregory Meeks (NY-05), Grace Meng (NY-06), Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), and Nydia Velázquez (NY-07).
In February 2025, Representatives Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Grace Meng (NY-06), Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), and Nydia Velázquez (NY-07) sent a letter to the New York State Department of Public Service calling New York State Department of Public Service CEO Rory Christian to reject Con Edison’s rate hikes.
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