I want to replace RG&E with a local, community controlled public utility!

I want to replace RG&E with a local, community controlled public utility!

Did you know that we can vote out the foreign-owned corporation that owns and controls RG&E? RG&E is owned by a foreign multinational corporation called Iberdrola that extracts over $107 million in profits from our region every year. Rochester for Energy Democracy (RED) is Metro Justice’s campaign to replace foreign-owned RG&E in Rochester or Monroe County into a not for profit, locally controlled public utility.

RG&E's track record speaks volumes—surprise billing, exorbitant rates, terrible customer service, and rising rates have plagued our community for far too long. In addition to being unresponsive to the needs of city residents, RG&E has all but ignored the impending climate crisis, continued to invest in fossil fuels, and lobbied against green energy policies. It's time for change.

  

 

2,321 signatures

By signing this petition, I support the call to replace RG&E with a locally owned and community controlled public utility that meets the needs of our communities instead of serving the greed of distant investors and CEOs. I want a public utility based on the principles of energy democracy:

  • Affordable Rates,
  • Local investment of ratepayer dollars to prioritize customer service and a reliable grid, 
  • A fast and equitable transition to zero greenhouse gas emissions, 
  • More good paying union jobs and a just transition for fossil fuel energy workers, 
  • Public ownership of the utility, where it is run by value-aligned general management and its current employees, governed by an elected Board of Directors, and has a real say for ratepayers. 

In particular, I call on elected leaders to take the first step and study whether and how a public utility could meet these goals.

Will you sign?

  • Valerie Osterptak
    signed 2025-01-11 21:58:39 -0500
  • David Hammond
    signed 2025-01-10 17:10:39 -0500
    Post the link to the voting on your story. Anywhere even. It’s no where to be found.
  • Kaarina Linke-Judge
    signed 2025-01-09 20:48:13 -0500
  • Kelly Garbato
    signed 2025-01-09 20:17:21 -0500
  • Caitlyn Jenkins
    signed 2025-01-09 16:31:50 -0500
  • joe
    signed 2025-01-09 15:32:00 -0500
  • Tonia Langdon
    signed 2025-01-09 14:34:50 -0500
  • Kayla Sweazy
    signed 2025-01-09 14:08:04 -0500
  • Hannah Mummert
    signed 2025-01-09 09:29:26 -0500
  • Karen James
    signed 2025-01-09 07:45:42 -0500
    Rge keeps raising my budget billing with nonsense they are keeping me from having larger payment at end of year. They went from $40 – $88 extra a month on top of the budget and all of their unexplainable in layman terms fees. I want to leave this area, and find a better utility company. I retire this year and the way everything is going I wont be able to maintain any quality of life beyond necessities. What kind of

    Payoff are the local government officials getting for selling out their seniors, those living in poverty, and working family’s?
  • Susan Spinelli
    signed 2025-01-01 17:42:51 -0500
  • Paul Jolly
    signed 2024-12-19 12:49:20 -0500
  • Ashley Lee
    signed 2024-12-17 16:57:47 -0500
    It is beyond ridiculous that a company is out trying to make as much money as possible off of utilities like electricity!
  • Apoorv Pandey
    signed 2024-12-13 17:24:38 -0500
  • Alex Baer
    signed 2024-12-09 22:27:34 -0500
  • Katherine Gregory
    signed 2024-12-06 17:59:41 -0500
  • Quillan Davidson
    signed 2024-12-05 16:15:00 -0500
  • Erene Menas
    signed 2024-12-05 13:32:59 -0500
  • Ben Rubin
    signed 2024-12-03 10:57:08 -0500
  • Chiara Sapia
    signed 2024-11-26 19:38:32 -0500
  • Lauren Goulet
    signed 2024-11-26 13:36:14 -0500
    Our community needs to be rid of RGE. I’ve had too many horrible experiences to count. This consistently impacts people’s quality of life and stress levels. In addition to the abysmal website, internal mistakes that have cost us money multiple times over multiple years, and the blatant inability to serve their customers or respond to issues, RGE is also perpetuating the climate crisis and in doing so disproportionately impacting marginalized communities.


    Public utilities now!!!


    Climate action and climate justice now!!!!
  • Suzanne Monroe
    signed 2024-11-25 18:38:44 -0500
  • Lynette Kehoe
    signed 2024-11-25 16:45:23 -0500
  • Rithwik Cherian
    signed 2024-11-22 16:45:48 -0500
  • Arthur Tapia
    signed 2024-11-22 13:26:37 -0500
  • Riccardo Brandolani
    signed 2024-11-22 12:16:55 -0500
  • Adriana Allen
    signed 2024-11-19 15:54:15 -0500
  • Claire Becker
    signed 2024-11-19 07:55:53 -0500
  • Julia Tellerman
    signed 2024-11-17 18:00:23 -0500
  • Claire Corbeaux
    signed 2024-11-17 17:58:52 -0500

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