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.

  

 

4,561 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?

  • Lauren Segelin
    signed 2026-02-25 12:32:52 -0500
  • Reganne Whalen
    signed 2026-02-25 12:20:51 -0500
  • Jonathan Geer
    signed 2026-02-25 12:18:48 -0500
    RGE only cares about profits and continues to increase prices while posting record profits and the rest of us struggle to make ends meet. FUCK RGE. POWER TO THE PEOPLE
  • Mike S
    signed 2026-02-25 12:16:19 -0500
    RGE Is clearly taking advantage of us. End the insanity.
  • Lucy Newman
    signed 2026-02-25 12:09:20 -0500
  • Daniel Gay
    signed 2026-02-25 12:08:59 -0500
  • Greg Issak
    signed 2026-02-25 11:54:05 -0500
  • Sarah Newman
    signed 2026-02-25 11:26:57 -0500
    There is no reason for a foreign entity to own and manage a utility company in a country they do not reside in. The inconsistencies in billing and customer service needs to come to an end. Rochester must switch to a public utility for electric and gas!
  • Jennifer Kehoe-Sailor
    signed 2026-02-25 10:30:56 -0500
  • Evan Brent
    signed 2026-02-25 10:29:14 -0500
    It’s past time to fund the study to determine if we can do better locally with our grid infrastructure!
  • Griffen Fox
    signed 2026-02-25 09:53:14 -0500
  • Alex Sinclair
    signed 2026-02-25 09:53:08 -0500
  • Paul Karas
    signed 2026-02-25 09:46:27 -0500
  • Zachariah Deardorff
    signed 2026-02-25 09:44:35 -0500
  • Jacob Longacre
    signed 2026-02-25 09:36:03 -0500
  • Adam Warner
    signed 2026-02-25 09:18:47 -0500
  • Timothy Rixner
    signed 2026-02-25 09:04:24 -0500
    We’re being fleeced by a multinational corporation that is raising prices in an uncontrolled manner.
  • Sen Neitz
    signed 2026-02-25 08:56:35 -0500
  • Brandon Webb-Fezer
    signed 2026-02-25 08:15:33 -0500
  • Dan Sobel
    signed 2026-02-25 08:12:49 -0500
    I’m sick of large corporations taking advantage of us in any way they can find. Let’s come together and make a utility that works better for all of us – not the board at Iberdrola.
  • Aurora Hatchel
    signed 2026-02-25 07:47:40 -0500
  • nate Bartalo
    signed 2026-02-25 07:05:21 -0500
  • Michael Simson
    signed 2026-02-25 06:52:08 -0500
  • Eira Brand
    signed 2026-02-25 06:42:37 -0500
  • Christopher Dabroski
    signed 2026-02-25 06:32:03 -0500
  • Brandon Baker
    signed 2026-02-25 06:31:05 -0500
  • Jonathan Castillo
    signed 2026-02-25 06:21:59 -0500
  • Sean Dolan
    signed 2026-02-25 06:17:16 -0500
  • Brian Blankenship
    signed 2026-02-25 05:34:42 -0500
  • Joseph Fraser
    signed 2026-02-25 05:21:12 -0500

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