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.

  

 

4,548 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?

  • Crystal Stanley
    signed 2026-04-27 12:43:13 -0400
  • Ellie Rothfuss
    signed 2026-04-27 12:42:38 -0400
  • Alanna Thompson
    signed 2026-04-26 14:10:01 -0400
  • Patricia Tuori
    signed 2026-04-24 13:09:40 -0400
  • Susan Galloway
    signed via 2026-04-23 21:39:19 -0400
  • jade aiuchi
    signed 2026-04-23 19:55:47 -0400
  • David Shein
    signed 2026-04-23 12:29:14 -0400
  • Gregory Evevsky
    signed 2026-04-21 23:43:42 -0400
  • Jessicca Walden
    signed 2026-04-21 19:05:21 -0400
    They didn’t accept my phone call meter readings for two years and when I finally got someone to read them from the company, they owed me $1000 and I know that wasn’t enough.
  • Drew Herzig
    signed 2026-04-21 00:18:21 -0400
  • Grace Kurowski
    signed 2026-04-20 18:30:23 -0400
  • Melvin valdez
    signed 2026-04-20 15:20:50 -0400
  • Jim Bearden
    signed 2026-04-19 19:34:25 -0400
  • Jessica Bero
    signed 2026-04-17 12:43:54 -0400
    I live in a studio apartment and had a bill last month of $750! For one month! Absolutely disgusting how this company works and I want them gone!!
  • Kyle Woods
    signed 2026-04-13 15:12:08 -0400
  • Sincere Libbett
    signed 2026-04-12 21:37:21 -0400
  • Savannah Tellander
    signed 2026-04-12 18:10:59 -0400
  • Peyton Drouhard
    signed 2026-04-12 13:32:49 -0400
  • Chester Miles
    signed 2026-04-11 14:25:07 -0400
  • Cheryl Pratt
    signed 2026-04-11 10:48:29 -0400
  • NationBuilder Support
    signed 2026-04-10 12:15:52 -0400
  • Macie Marcello
    signed 2026-04-10 10:00:38 -0400
  • Gabriela Lockett
    signed 2026-04-04 12:34:28 -0400
  • Evangela Asare
    signed 2026-04-02 18:11:01 -0400
  • Adrianna Beck
    signed 2026-04-02 12:00:42 -0400
  • Buddy Nyhof
    signed 2026-04-01 22:10:50 -0400
  • Donna Christo
    signed 2026-03-31 18:41:10 -0400
  • Kaleb Thorhauer
    signed 2026-03-31 18:32:29 -0400
  • Tim Christo
    signed 2026-03-31 18:06:08 -0400
  • Shila Ott
    signed 2026-03-31 14:17:30 -0400
    If rg&e keeps being as expensive as it is me and my 5 month old will literally be living without electricity how is that fair? The charge to deliver energy to my 2 bed room apartment is more expensive then how much energy we actually use it’s just me and my daughter who can’t even use anything and somehow I’m paying $300-400 bills for just me and I can’t afford it

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