By Steve Rhoads
Across New York, families are struggling to afford what should be the most basic necessities — heat in the winter, air conditioning in the summer, clean running water and the electricity to power homes, businesses and lives. In today’s New York, those basics are quickly becoming luxuries.
New Yorkers now pay 48 percent more for electricity than the national average — and 35 percent more than residents in neighboring Pennsylvania. For working families, seniors on fixed incomes and small-business owners, the rising cost of energy is becoming more than a monthly inconvenience. It’s becoming unsustainable.
The situation is made worse by Albany’s increasingly aggressive push for electrification — mandating electric vehicles, electric heating and cooling systems, electric stoves and even electric school buses. These policies are being rushed forward without the infrastructure, energy supply or affordability safeguards in place. The result is a dangerous combination: higher bills and a less reliable power grid.
It’s not just consumers who are raising concerns — it’s the state’s own energy experts. During a recent heat wave, the New York Independent System Operator, which manages the state’s power grid, issued multiple energy warnings due to dangerously low operating reserves. These warnings weren’t a fluke. With a few weeks of summer still ahead, the likelihood of more grid instability looms large.
The state’s Draft Energy Plan even quietly acknowledges that households relying on natural gas — a clean and affordable energy source — could face significantly higher bills as Albany continues to ban gas in favor of electricity.
And what’s behind the sky-high bills New Yorkers are already paying? Nearly 20 percent of the average utility bill now goes directly to government-imposed fees, surcharges and subsidies. These hidden costs fund policies and programs many families neither asked for nor benefit from — and that percentage is only expected to rise.
The state Public Service Commission, which was created to protect ratepayers, has instead rubber-stamped repeated rate hikes by utility companies, leaving consumers footing the bill.
Enough is enough.
It’s time for a reset. That’s why Gov. Kathy Hochul must declare an energy state of emergency and immediately pause these reckless, top-down mandates. There must be a serious, statewide reassessment of how to balance laudable environmental goals with economic realities.
Protecting the environment and ensuring affordable, reliable energy are not mutually exclusive. New York can lead in innovation without leaving working families behind. That means maintaining natural gas as part of our energy mix, modernizing aging power plants and embracing real solutions like green hydrogen, nuclear energy and carbon capture — technologies with the potential to drive down emissions while keeping the lights on and the bills reasonable.
State Senate Republicans have put forward common-sense solutions to ease the burden on families. That includes supporting efforts to pump the brakes on costly mandates banning gas stoves and forcing school districts to spend billions on electric buses — before the infrastructure or funding exists to make those transitions viable. Bipartisan legislation has also been introduced to allow private water companies access to grant funds for system improvements, helping relieve ratepayers’ burden.
Another proposed measure would eliminate the Special Franchise Tax on private water companies — a move that could slash some water bills by more than 30 percent. To deliver immediate relief, legislation has also been proposed to give ratepayers a break of up to $600 on their utility bills, which would put real money back in the pockets of those struggling to keep up with rising costs.
The stakes are too high to continue down the current path. Rolling blackouts, exploding energy bills and forced conversions to electric systems that many can’t afford are not signs of a greener future. They are warnings of policy failure.
New Yorkers deserve an energy policy grounded in common sense — one that prioritizes affordability, reliability and real progress over rigid ideology. That begins with honest leadership, transparent planning and an unwavering focus on the people who pay the price for Albany’s decisions.
Every resident, from Bellmore to Buffalo, should be able to count on affordable energy. Because heat in the winter and A.C. in the summer shouldn’t be considered luxuries — they’re necessities. And no New Yorker should be forced to choose between paying the electric bill and putting food on the table. Now is the time to course-correct — before the lights go out.
Steve Rhoads represents the 5th State Senate District.
