Rochester residents braved the cold Saturday to demand big changes from RG&E — and they didn’t come quietly.
Nearly 100 people gathered outside the utility’s walk-in center on South Clinton Avenue, which RG&E now wants to shut down, just as it’s also asking for a $624 rate hike and a profit increase. Metro Justice led the protest, joined by more than ten local advocacy and labor groups.
Organizers say the timing was no accident. The action came just before formal negotiations on the proposed hike begin. Protesters delivered a demand letter, plastered the building with their bills and personal stories, and spelled out “No Hikes” with their bodies on the ground.
“It’s too damn cold to turn off the heat,” said Kim Smith of VOCAL-NY. “Which is why we’re turning up the heat on RG&E.”
Public power push gains momentum
At the heart of the protest was a call for more than just affordable bills. Speakers demanded an end to shutoffs and a transition to a publicly owned utility — one they say would put people over profit.
Metro Justice’s Dr. Michi Wenderlich was blunt: “We can’t let the burden fall to our neighbors to decide whether to heat or eat. We can’t afford not to replace RG&E.”
The protest included voices from the Federation of Social Workers, RocACTS, United Christian Leadership Ministry, 1199 SEIU, and more. Many pointed to RG&E’s troubling track record — including a recent state audit that found widespread mismanagement, and what they call “unverifiable” finances.
Record shutoffs, soaring profits
RG&E has already surpassed last year’s record shutoff numbers, with more than 15,000 homes and businesses disconnected as of October. That’s triple the shutoffs in 2023.
Meanwhile, company profits have soared — from $89 million just a few years ago to $122 million in 2024. Parent company Avangrid’s profits have jumped 185% over the last decade, more than any other New York utility.
“Any increase poses an unacceptable rise in energy burden and shut offs,” said Christina Christman, president of the Federation of Social Workers.
And the burden hits hardest in Rochester. The city now has the third highest energy burden in the U.S., with nearly a third of all households spending over 6% of their income on utilities — often much more for low-income and minority residents.
What the protesters want
The group’s demands were direct. They called on:
- RG&E to withdraw the rate hike request and stop shutoffs.
- Governor Hochul and the Public Service Commission to block the hikes and impose a shutoff moratorium.
- Monroe County and the City of Rochester to fund a public utility study and explore alternatives to RG&E.
Organizers say current bills may not even be accurate — pointing to audit findings of billing errors and missing financial transparency.
“They shouldn’t even be able to file for a rate hike,” the demand letter read. “Stop endangering our community and making us responsible for your mistakes.”
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