Gov. Hochul calls on Con Ed to review its billing as utility costs surge

To stop the sudden surge of utility surge, New York governor Kathy Hochul called on Con Edison to review their billing practices and “better communicate with New Yorkers.”

In a written statement, Hochul appealed to Con Ed to help her take “unified action” in providing relief to New Yorkers now feeling the increased economic crunch of rising electricity and fuel prices.

“The extreme utility bill increases we are seeing across the state come at a time when New Yorkers are already struggling financially following the COVID-19 pandemic,” Hochul said on Friday.

“Even though the spike we are seeing in electricity, natural gas and fuel prices were predicted and are due to severe winter weather, I am calling on Con Ed to review their billing practices because we must take unified action to provide relief for New Yorkers, especially our most vulnerable residents,” Hochul added.

Earlier, New Yorkers and the city and state lawmakers are alarmed on a sudden rate spike in their Con Ed energy bills.

Some NY residents said these charges could make it impossible for them to afford rent and their utilities.

Brandy Bora, a corporate executive who rents a loft in Greenpoint, revealed her family’s Con Ed bill shot up from $300 in December to $850 last month — an increase, which, if sustained, will mean they’ll eventually be forced to move.

“I don’t even know what to do,” Bora said on Tuesday.

“I literally can’t pay that,” Bora added.

Tiffany Chu, a landlord who owns a building in the same part of Brooklyn as Bora, revealed that her Ed electricity bill jumped from about $73 in December to more than $350 last month.

“It seems like everyone in this area is experiencing it,” Chu said.

In view of the sudden electrical charge surge, city Councilman Lincoln Restler has urged the state’s Public Service Commission to direct the Department of Public Service to investigate the sudden and precipitous rate hikes.

“The extreme overnight increases in our constituents’ energy bills are simply outrageous,” Restler said.

“It’s the commission’s job to protect New Yorkers when utility companies try to pass on fluctuations in the marketplace onto consumers, and we urgently need the PSC to intervene,” Restler added.

Con Ed spokesman Jamie McShane cited a high winter demand for natural gas and fluctuations in the global energy market as reasons for the sudden surge in electric bills.