New York lawmakers are cracking down on utility regulators as millions of residents fall behind on gas and electric bills. According to USA Today, the state Senate passed measures aimed at making the Public Service Commission more accountable, including adding a consumer advocate and barring recent utility employees from joining the board.
The package of eight bills, backed by Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, comes as utilities seek steep rate hikes. About 1.2 million customers are behind on payments, prompting calls for transparency and ratepayer protections. Proposed reforms would trigger alerts for high usage, extend rate hike reviews, and factor stress damages into fines.
Con Edison wants to raise monthly bills by up to $46, citing aging infrastructure and climate upgrades. Critics argue utilities prioritize profits while customers struggle to keep the lights on.
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