RG&E and NYSEG are taking major steps to ease the burden on customers this winter.
In response to what it calls market conditions and energy supply prices – both will suspend late payment charges from December 1st through April 15th.
The new rule will apply to all customers.
“Our electricity and natural gas delivery rates are expected to remain steady through the winter, but supply prices are expected to climb” said Patricia Nilsen, president and CEO of NYSEG and RG&E. “To alleviate the financial hardship this will cause during the winter heating season, we have elected to waive late payment charges on customer bills for this period.”
Both NYSEG and RG&E are operated by AVANGRID. They do not own generation, but procure energy from the open market. They say increased fuel prices, supply constraints, and global events have contributed to rising costs.
Rising costs have been roundly criticized due to ongoing billing issues with RG&E, which serves the Greater Rochester area, as well as Wayne and Ontario counties.
“Suspending charges for late payments is a measure we take to ease financial burdens on our customers during extraordinary circumstances,” said Pedro Azagra, CEO of AVANGRID. “We recognize that New Yorkers depend on the essential utilities we provide, and we want to partner with them to ensure uninterrupted service.”
The Public Service Commission estimates on average a residential electric customer using 600 kWh per month in New York is expected to pay about $75 per month for supply this winter, up 42 percent from the same period a year ago. Residential Gas customers using 732 therms of natural gas can expect to pay an estimated $240 per month during the winter heating season. This is an increase of about 30 percent over the same period last year.
Officials with the energy providers say final, actual costs will vary depend on how warm or cold the winter turns out.
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