Sticker shock has hit mailboxes across the Finger Lakes region as gas and electric bills climb, according to RochesterFirst.
RIT public policy professor Eric Hittinger says winter demand drives the spike. Much of upstate New York’s natural gas comes from Pennsylvania, and extreme cold across the East Coast strains supply. When demand jumps, fuel prices rise fast — and utilities pass those supply costs straight to customers.
RG&E says it doesn’t profit from supply charges and blames higher market prices and colder temperatures. Officials urge struggling customers to seek payment plans or apply for New York’s Home Energy Assistance Program.
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