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.

  

 

3,495 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?

  • Matt Austin
    signed via 2022-10-09 13:57:02 -0400
  • Ed Donnelly
    signed 2022-10-02 20:11:41 -0400
    Rochester used to have a locally owned gas and electric company. It is time to return to an option like our surrounding neighbors of Fairport, Ogden, Penn Yan, and others with a municipal power company.
  • Jonathan Cloud
    signed 2022-09-22 13:17:05 -0400
  • Britny Blake
    signed 2022-09-22 07:47:40 -0400
    RGE has been overcharging me since I moved to this location. I am a SINGLE woman with NO children, in other words, I live ALONE. My RGE bill is $705.63. 9-21-22 at 1pm a field representative is coming to do a trace out of the apartment. Which it may be something with the apartment, but I’m 90% sure this is RGE OVERCHARGING ME. I will let you know how this turns out.
  • Ben Chelemer
    signed 2022-09-21 15:16:01 -0400
  • Kristy Kelley
    signed 2022-09-18 23:54:41 -0400
  • Dorothy Day
    signed 2022-09-17 07:45:30 -0400
  • Helena Fick
    signed 2022-09-15 21:16:43 -0400
  • John Cannon
    signed 2022-09-15 16:12:57 -0400
  • Jesse Pemberton
    signed 2022-09-08 10:29:55 -0400
  • wolid Mohamed
    signed 2022-09-01 05:23:41 -0400
  • alyssa dawson
    signed 2022-08-31 10:29:07 -0400
  • James Alexander
    signed 2022-08-31 05:08:59 -0400
  • Nora Gefell
    signed 2022-08-31 04:38:33 -0400
  • Bekah Gaebel
    signed 2022-08-30 13:38:45 -0400
  • Elliot Vos
    signed 2022-08-30 11:18:10 -0400
  • June barnhart
    signed 2022-08-23 19:55:43 -0400
  • Wendy Ross
    signed 2022-08-22 16:51:15 -0400
  • Celia Petty
    signed 2022-08-22 16:16:02 -0400
  • Logan Abplanalp
    signed 2022-08-19 23:26:55 -0400
  • Tilor Hallquist
    signed 2022-07-20 17:05:08 -0400
  • Orezont Ragans
    signed 2022-07-20 17:00:28 -0400
  • Courtney Floom
    signed 2022-07-18 16:25:59 -0400
  • Blanca Burns-Morales
    signed 2022-07-17 08:48:12 -0400
    Yo, fuck RG&E. Anything and everything we can be doing to bring Community controlled, renewable and affordable energy to Rochester is a must. Lets crumble RG&E, they’ve been abusing their customers for too long.
  • Matt Loman
    signed 2022-07-15 19:06:29 -0400
  • Justin Townsend
    signed 2022-07-15 13:44:28 -0400
  • Isaac Harris
    signed 2022-07-15 10:50:22 -0400
  • Keely Davis
    signed 2022-07-11 15:31:57 -0400
  • Jeff Albaral
    signed 2022-07-11 15:30:32 -0400
  • nb tester
    signed 2022-07-05 14:02:59 -0400

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