No Hikes, No Shut Offs, Public Power NOW! 

Take a moment to send your own version of this letter using the template here! 

From: Metro Justice, United Christian Leadership Ministry, Rochester DSA, Free the People Roc, City-Wide Tenant Union, VOCAL NY Rochester, Being Black in the Burbs, Federation of Social Workers, and RocACTS

To: Rochester Gas & Electric, Governor Hochul, Public Service Commission, Monroe County Executive Adam Bello, Monroe County Legislators, Mayor Malik Evans, Rochester City Council Members, Rochester Delegation

Given the facts that: in May 2025, the last installment of RGE's previous 34% distribution rate hike went into effect, and that RG&E is now, immediately after their last increase, asking for ANOTHER 34% increase. These new hikes, if approved, would result in a $623 increase to the average household gas and electric bill and, using ACEEE numbers, put 50,000 more RG&E customers in energy poverty. With a median income of ~$46K, this means more than half of Rochester households would be at risk (meaning energy exceeds 6% of income). The hikes also come on the heels of the recent audit showing widespread mismanagement and safety violations by RG&E and its multinational owners, and that it’s unclear where money is going within the company or between the various utility companies that Avangrid owns. The recommendations of that audit have not yet been fully implemented. Even with the results of that audit, RG&E is requesting an increase in their rate of profit, to 10%, even while experts claim that utility profits should be closer to 6%. RG&E/NYSEG also wants to close the walk-in center at 180 South Clinton, and 4 other offices (Sodus, Oneonta, Ithaca, Auburn) in their territory. 

Additionally, RG&E’s Shut Off Crisis is spiralling out of control, and seems to be intricately connected to the ongoing misbilling and accountability crises of the utility. The numbers are startling: 12,217 homes and 1,196 businesses were shut off in 2024, for a total of 13,413 shut offs. This number is triple the shut offs of 2023, and is an all-time high in recent times. And yet, shut offs as of October 2025 already surpass 2024 numbers - with 15,322 total. To add insult to injury, HEAP funds were delayed this year, and are reduced generally - meaning the full need for energy assistance is not being met. 

At the same time, new profit numbers for 2024 show that profits - just a few years ago $89 million, rose to $107 million in 2023, $122 million in 2024, with just a small adjustment to $119 million for the year ending April 2025.[1] And a recent report found that Avangrid profits have increased 185% in the last 10 years - more than any other utility in NY. Meanwhile, Rochester’s energy burden (the proportion of income for energy) is already third highest in the country, with 29% of all homes, or 44% of Black and Latino homes, paying between 6-25% of their total income on energy. An updated report from ACEEE shows that a quarter of low income households in Rochester pay 21% or more of their income to RG&E. The rate case also proposes using ratepayer money to expand fossil fuel infrastructure, including false solutions like hydrogen and “renewable” natural gas. As a result, we all pay more than we should in energy bills while the continued use of fossil fuels pushes us towards catastrophic environmental damage, but prioritizes the most expensive infrastructure that bring RG&E and Avangrid the most profit.

We demand: 

1) Of RG&E - Withdraw your rate hike request. Stop executing shut offs. 

• The audit showed that your finances can’t be independently verified, and until all of the recommendations of the audit have been implemented, you shouldn’t even be able to file for a rate hike request. Given your record of lacking service and harm to the community, you also need to stop executing shut offs. Stop endangering our community and making us responsible for your mistakes. 

2) Governor Hochul and the Public Service Commission: Don’t approve any rate increase; Implement a Shut-off Moratorium NOW

• • These issues, along with alarming safety and security violations shown by the audit, show that the utilities have not demonstrated responsible use of our funds and do not merit this rate increase or the increased return on equity they seek.
  • Especially given Avangrid’s dismal performance, Rochester's high energy burden, the disproportionate burden on low income households and households of color, and Avangrid’s frequent mistakes, 
    • These hikes would make matters worse and impact our most vulnerable disproportionately. They are unacceptable and there should be no rate increase. 
    • There needs to be a shut off moratorium. 

• The audit also showed that RG&E billing is not accurate. Ratepayers should not be on the hook for bills that we don’t know are correct, nor for unpaid bills /arrears. They should certainly not be shut off for bills that are routinely inaccurate. 

• On profits in particular, there is no sound argument for raising the companies’ return on equity. In fact, utility experts such as Mark Ellis are raising concerns that return on equity for utilities is vastly overbloated, and should be lowered to the actual cost of capital, perhaps with a cushion for administrative costs. This would be closer to 6% than 10%.
• Don’t allow the closure of the South Clinton or any walk in center, and expand walk in center hours at least from 7am to 7pm, or vary times to ensure open hours outside of 9-5. 
• See a full list of demands, formally submitted to the rate case via Metro Justice, here.

3) Of Monroe County and City of Rochester: Write to, and use any means necessary to pressure, the Governor and the PSC to deny rate hikes, to implement a shut off moratorium, and yourselves: use your own power and jurisdiction to finally fund and commission an independent, third-party public utility study to look into alternatives to RG&E and a locally-owned nonprofit utility, so we're not stuck in this constant cycle of hikes and powerlessness. As of today, over 6,841 local residents have signed a petition asking you to do this - when will you heed our call? 
Rochester Delegation: Do whatever possible to support both asks.

[1] See: Regulated Balance for Common on Pages 9 and 10