RED (Rochester for Energy Democracy) 101: New Member Orientation and Campaign Intro Event

Come-one-Come all and find out what everyone is talking about!!

Did you know that we can vote out the foreign-owned, for-profit corporation that owns and controls RG&E? RG&E and their foreign owners continue to overcharge and fail our community without accountability. The solution is a tried and true one: a non-profit, locally owned, public utility. 

Despite an epidemic of ongoing billing errors and dysfunctional customer service, state regulators rewarded RG&E with a 34% rate hike over the next 3 years. We deserve a future in which we are no longer beholden to a profit-driven, foreign company for our basic energy needs. We deserve to have the chance to make an informed choice on whether we maintain the status quo with RG&E or establish a public, locally owned, non-profit utility instead!

What we need to get us there is organized people power. We won't be able to beat RGE and their foreign owner's concerted money and political influence without an organized movement. Have you been looking for a way to plug in? This is your chance: come to discuss why we need a locally-owned nonprofit alternative, your experiences with this corporate monopoly, what it will take to get us there, and how you can be a part of it! 

City residents are the hardest hit by RG&E’s insane bills and neglect, so our RED (Rochester for Energy Democracy) Campaign for a public utility is returning to its roots as a city-based campaign. The first step is a comprehensive feasibility and implementation study. Because the City of Rochester has set aside 500 thousand dollars to reduce energy burden on city residents, we must push for the City to use those funds to commission an implementation study. The vast majority of public utility studies are funded and initiated at the city-level, even if the study covers a larger region. Rochester can do this too; our City leadership owes it to residents to study a publicly owned alternative to the persistent greed and incompetence of RG&E. 

It’ll take a lot of public pressure from residents to outweigh RG&E's political influence and convince the City to lead where the County failed. So, join us for this RED - 101 New Member Orientation, at 2 pm on March 23rd, at 389 Gregory St, Unit B (the unit next to our office). You’ll meet other supportive residents and Metro Justice members and learn more about the RED Campaign. You'll have the opportunity to share your stories about RG&E, ask questions about public utilities and the steps to create one locally, and discuss how to bring in more people to stand strong against RG&E and push legislators to study creating a public utility. Snacks and non alcoholic- beverages will be provided; Children welcomed!! 

Directions to this event: 

- The address is 389 Gregory Street, Unit B. 

- Please use the Cayuga Street entrance; come to the large double doors with a keypad on it. 

- Enter, go up the stairs to the second floor. Unit B will be on the right.

Please email [email protected] if this location is not accessible to you, and we can find an alternative.