PSEG Long Island Makes Its Case To State For Rate Hikes
HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- PSEG Long Island officials told the state's Public Service Department on Tuesday that rate hikes are needed to maintain quality service.
A hearing on the proposed increases was held at the William H. Rogers Legislature Building in Hauppauge, WCBS 880 Long Island Bureau Chief Mike Xirinachs reported.
PSEG officials argued the proposed three-year, $374 million rate hike request is really a modest one.
PSEG Long Island Makes Its Case To State For Rate Hikes
"Right now, for the first year, we're at about $2.85 a month for our customers, and then it increases to $3.10 a month in 2017 and 2018," said utility spokesman Jeffrey Weir.
The extra revenue would help "further enhance the tree trimming, the line inspections and to overall increase the level of satisfaction for our customers here on Long Island," Weir said.
But electric rates on Long Island are already among the highest in the nation, said AARP spokeswoman Joan McCarty.
"People will have to choose," she said. "They'll have to choose between paying their electric bill. They'll have to choose between paying for food, paying for their medication."
Earlier this month, PSEG was seeking a 3.7 percent increase. A state panel, however, said the number should be only about a quarter of that. The utility then reduced its request by 15 percent.
Regulators will have the final say. A decision is still months away.
