Con Ed Seeks 3.2 Percent Rate Hike For 2016

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Con Edison is asking the Public Service Commission to approve a rate hike for 2016.

The utility said residential bills would go up 3.2 percent. For the average New York City residents that translates to about $3.88 more per month.

In Westchester, customers will see about an extra $4.70 on their bills, CBS2 reported.

Con Ed said the money would be used for enhanced security, improved reliability and better customer service through an enhanced website.

"In order to maintain that reliability that you always want the lights to go on whenever you flip that switch, that's what the rate plan is all about," Con Ed spokesman Michael Clendenin told 1010 WINS. "And that part of the bill, we're requesting an increase starting next year and all that will be under discussion for the next 11 months with the Public Service Commission."

New York City Public Advocate Letitia James wasted no time in calling on Con Ed to postpone the rate hike.

"Given the recent declines in oil and natural gas prices it is hard to understand why Con Edison is choosing now to raise electricity rates," James said. "The overwhelming majority of New Yorkers have still not recovered from the Great Recession, and any rate increase is going to unfairly impact low and fixed-income New Yorkers.

"The utility giant has not articulated why this increase is appropriate now, and as a result I am calling on Con Edison to postpone its rate hike for the foreseeable future," she concluded.

If approved, the rate increase would take effect on Jan. 1, 2016. The last rate hike was in April of 2012.