A Waterloo senior says rising electricity costs are becoming impossible to manage after receiving a $654 utility bill for a single month.
Theresa Trickler shared her concerns in a letter to the editor published by the Finger Lakes Times, describing the financial strain caused by her January 2026 bill from New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG).
Trickler said her apartment is fully electric, with electricity used for heat, cooking, and hot water.
Her January bill totaled $654.04, based on an actual meter reading. She noted the bill was for an apartment rather than a house.
Trickler said her bill for the same month last year exceeded $400, which she already considered high. Despite colder temperatures this winter, she said she used less electricity this year than she did the previous year.
She currently participates in NYSEG’s budget billing program but expects she will still owe additional money at the end of the heating season.
In the letter, Trickler also questioned why her bills appear to increase when new meters are installed.
She said high electric rates and delivery charges are forcing many residents to cut back on other necessities just to pay utility bills.
While financial assistance programs exist for some customers, Trickler argued the underlying problem is the overall cost of electricity.
“I’m sickened by this, and at these rates, I’ll soon be broke as well,” she wrote.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].