A state assemblyman is calling on the New York state comptroller’s office to investigate National Grid’s electric and gas delivery charges, saying a growing number of people in his district are reporting steep increases in delivery charges that can’t be explained by their energy usage.
Angelo Santabarbara sent a formal request to state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli calling for a review and asking whether current oversight is protecting New Yorkers.
“Customers are paying more in delivery charges even when they are using the same amount — or less — energy,” Santabarbara said. “That raises serious red flags about how these charges are calculated and who is being protected when bills go up.”
A National Grid official said delivery charges are set by the state Public Service Commission. The commission approved National Grid rate hikes in New York in August.
Santabarbara cited the following concerns in his request: increasing delivery charges, profits reported by utilities, executive compensation, shareholder returns and rising winter heating costs.
“When people are doing everything right — conserving energy, budgeting carefully — and still getting hit with higher delivery charges, the system isn’t working for them,” the assemblyman said.
In August, National Grid Thursday said that residential electricity customers that use an average of 625 kilowatt-hours per month would see an estimated monthly bill increase of $14.32 the first year, $6.44 in the second year and $4.34 in year three; and residential natural gas customers that use an average of 78 therms per month would see an estimated total monthly bill increase of $7.66 in the first year, $8.08 in the second year and $9.18 in year three.
It said the rate plan will enhance energy affordability programs, enable reliability and resiliency investments, promote economic growth and advance New York state’s energy goals.