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.

4,562 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.

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Ben Kelly signed 2025-05-16 23:49:57 -0400
Ariel Lubman signed 2025-05-16 18:03:15 -0400
Liv Sun signed 2025-05-16 15:31:18 -0400

F**k RGE
Nate Trieste signed 2025-05-16 15:31:07 -0400
Francis Harte signed 2025-05-16 14:58:02 -0400
Jason Mayotte signed 2025-05-16 13:12:06 -0400
Madeleine Baum signed 2025-05-16 12:50:51 -0400
Rachel Sabatello signed 2025-05-16 09:11:51 -0400
Makenzie Griffith signed 2025-05-15 20:10:58 -0400
Michael Morris signed 2025-05-15 12:29:42 -0400
Mike Glavich signed 2025-05-14 14:30:23 -0400

RG&E is OUT OF CONTROL. They couldn’t care less about our community, and it’s population. They are running a ‘legal’ monopoly.
Brad Berry signed 2025-05-13 11:58:35 -0400
Kevin Walsh signed 2025-05-12 19:56:08 -0400
Janna Salmin signed 2025-05-12 19:15:24 -0400
Linaria Larkin signed 2025-05-12 16:51:24 -0400
Renee Colon signed 2025-05-10 13:35:10 -0400
Dionne Jacques signed 2025-05-10 09:05:14 -0400
Sarah Briggs signed 2025-05-08 14:09:45 -0400
Joe Miller signed 2025-05-08 13:05:31 -0400

Rochester bears one of the highest energy burdens in the country (% of income that goes towards energy costs) on par with far larger cities like NYC, Boston, and DC. Having a for-profit entity like RG&E is undoubtedly a contributor. Private entities make decisions primarily based on profitability, something government or community owned entities need to consider to remain viable but are more evenly weighted against other factors. I’ll also say I’ve never heard someone from Fairport complain about Fairport Electric. The only local resistance to this is from RG&E itself.
Alyssa Cohen signed 2025-05-08 12:37:59 -0400
jessica klein signed 2025-05-08 12:37:49 -0400
Angela Harding signed 2025-05-08 11:48:47 -0400
Michelle Yates signed 2025-05-08 07:22:31 -0400
Jaesic Wade signed 2025-05-07 18:31:06 -0400

PLEASE MAKE THIS HAPPEN
Maria Evans signed 2025-05-07 17:43:27 -0400

I don’t understand how anyone could be against this. RG&E takes our money out of our community. A public utility would be more affordable and more accountable to us. Current employees would be able to make the changes I’m sure they’ve already thought of to make RG&E run more smoothly.
Annie Schwartz signed 2025-05-07 14:50:04 -0400
Ethan Schell signed 2025-05-06 22:47:42 -0400
Justin Philipps signed 2025-05-06 17:07:11 -0400
Olivia Luttazi signed 2025-05-05 17:44:55 -0400

RGE is a blight on the city of rochester and monroe county. I grew up in a city that had an amazing public utility, there is no reason for rochesterians to suffer!
Teri Fuller signed 2025-05-05 08:47:17 -0400

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

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