The New York State Assembly approved a budget proposal that includes relief for utility ratepayers.”About $380 more and actually I used less electricity,” said David White, a NYSEG customer.White owns a home in Jay. He said his NYSEG bill went from $560 to $936 in one month.”When it comes to utilities, I think there needs to be a little more regulation,” said White. “You can’t just do this to people.”White isn’t the only person to say that. Assemblyman Michael Cashman, (D) NY-115, shared a similar sentiment at the latest New York State Legislative Forum.”It’s not just an issue with NYSEG and National Grid, it’s Con Ed, it’s all of the power utility companies of the state,” said Cashman. “They have to be reined in.”More recently, the state Assembly approved the one-house budget proposal. Included in it is some relief for utility ratepayers. In a statement on Thursday, Cashman said, “Our State has faced some of the highest utility rates in the nation, and the one-house budget will help rein in rising rates and put money back into people’s pockets.””Life has to be affordable,” Cashman said on March 6. “When it comes to electricity, people need it to be able to cook their food, heat their homes.”Cashman said the Assembly’s plan includes rebate checks, a pause on utility assessments and a ban on utility rate increases.But until that happens, David White is anxious to open his next bill.”I don’t know what March is going to bring,” said White. “I don’t know if I’m going to have another thousand-dollar, $900 electric bill for my March bill.”White said he did subscribe to NYSEG’s budget program. NYSEG encourages customers to join that or other statewide energy assistance programs, like HEAP.

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. —

The New York State Assembly approved a budget proposal that includes relief for utility ratepayers.

“About $380 more and actually I used less electricity,” said David White, a NYSEG customer.

White owns a home in Jay. He said his NYSEG bill went from $560 to $936 in one month.

“When it comes to utilities, I think there needs to be a little more regulation,” said White. “You can’t just do this to people.”

White isn’t the only person to say that. Assemblyman Michael Cashman, (D) NY-115, shared a similar sentiment at the latest New York State Legislative Forum.

“It’s not just an issue with NYSEG and National Grid, it’s Con Ed, it’s all of the power utility companies of the state,” said Cashman. “They have to be reined in.”

More recently, the state Assembly approved the one-house budget proposal. Included in it is some relief for utility ratepayers.

In a statement on Thursday, Cashman said, “Our State has faced some of the highest utility rates in the nation, and the one-house budget will help rein in rising rates and put money back into people’s pockets.”

“Life has to be affordable,” Cashman said on March 6. “When it comes to electricity, people need it to be able to cook their food, heat their homes.”

Cashman said the Assembly’s plan includes rebate checks, a pause on utility assessments and a ban on utility rate increases.

But until that happens, David White is anxious to open his next bill.

“I don’t know what March is going to bring,” said White. “I don’t know if I’m going to have another thousand-dollar, $900 electric bill for my March bill.”

White said he did subscribe to NYSEG’s budget program. NYSEG encourages customers to join that or other statewide energy assistance programs, like HEAP.