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 $120 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 and shut offs, 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.

  

 

2,901 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?

  • Robert Bennett
    signed via 2025-06-04 16:29:18 -0400
  • James Murphy
    signed 2025-06-04 09:53:13 -0400
  • Miranda Yates
    signed 2025-06-03 11:46:50 -0400
  • Laura Church
    signed 2025-06-03 06:39:42 -0400
    RG&E needs to go. The incompetence and disfunction must end. I can’t believe they’ve gotten away with this for so long!
  • Melissa Christodaro
    signed 2025-06-02 10:07:58 -0400
  • Matthew Akyuz
    signed 2025-05-31 19:32:09 -0400
  • Catrina Rebstock
    signed 2025-05-31 04:23:39 -0400
  • Tonya Dugan
    signed 2025-05-30 17:03:31 -0400
    Every single person has a right to affordable and sustainable utilities.
  • Bradley Moon
    signed 2025-05-30 14:04:39 -0400
  • Alana Hernandez
    signed 2025-05-30 00:18:47 -0400
  • Wren Neace
    signed 2025-05-29 12:59:47 -0400
  • Madison Peña
    signed 2025-05-29 12:17:34 -0400
  • Jacqueline Ly
    signed 2025-05-28 10:52:57 -0400
  • Santino Marino
    signed 2025-05-28 10:31:44 -0400
    I really hope this goes well. My rg&e bill went up from 100$ monthly to 300$ despite barely running most of my amenities. Rg&e is a criminal company and should not be the only option for energy.
  • Paul King
    signed 2025-05-27 18:01:46 -0400
    RG&E needs to go!
  • Ally Levy
    signed 2025-05-27 00:08:30 -0400
  • Olivia Kuter
    signed 2025-05-26 15:28:09 -0400
  • Lilia Rissman
    signed 2025-05-26 14:35:16 -0400
  • Brianna Masco
    signed 2025-05-26 02:11:45 -0400
  • Ben Waara
    signed 2025-05-26 02:11:39 -0400
  • Alyssa Antonelli
    signed 2025-05-25 18:12:30 -0400
  • Melissa Stio
    signed 2025-05-25 16:08:40 -0400
  • Colleen Oakley
    signed 2025-05-24 17:57:14 -0400
    Yes because my mom’s house been empty towards the middle of last year and they’re giving me a bill close to 500 I told him no one lives there hasn’t lived there at all we have nothing plugged in no lights nothing they are robbing people without a gun
  • Emily Bonsignore
    signed 2025-05-24 14:39:40 -0400
  • William Everett
    signed 2025-05-24 12:32:22 -0400
    Need to know more about, platform
  • Marilyn Cigna
    signed 2025-05-23 13:48:47 -0400
  • Judy White
    signed 2025-05-23 09:32:04 -0400
  • Karen James
    signed 2025-05-23 07:52:17 -0400
  • Tiara Rollins
    signed 2025-05-23 03:07:20 -0400
  • Katie Keating
    signed 2025-05-23 02:44:50 -0400
    GET RID OF RG&E!!! They are a MONOPOLY, and always have been and don’t take customers needs into account! We have choices about which company our cell phone carrier should be, as one example! Having the choice about who to use as the carrier to heat and cool our homes, use our appliances is much more consequential…and there is no choice – only a failure of a company that takes advantage of there customers that it serves – RG&E that is a complete and total MONOPOLY!!!! PLEASE help give us choices, as we should have!!

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