SAVE THE DATE!!

WEDNESDAY APRIL 30TH 2025

R.E.D REPORT CARD RALLY 

Metro Justice has been calling on local elected officials to commission an independent study to determine the feasibility of replacing RG&E with a publicly-owned utility in Rochester and Monroe County.

As new numbers show, our community is hurting and suffering under RG&E’s predatory practices, and the Shut Off Crisis that seems to be intricately connected to the ongoing miss-billing and accountability crises of the utility. The numbers are startling: 12,217 homes and 1,196 businesses were shut off in 2024, for a total of 13,413 shut offs. This number is triple the shut offs of 2023, and is an all-time high in recent times. At the same time, new profit numbers for 2024 show that profits - just a few years ago $90 million, rose to $107 million in 2023 and are now $122 million in 2024. RG&E is having their best year ever while Rochester’s energy burden (the proportion of income for energy) is third highest in the country, with 29% of all homes, or 44% of Black and Latino homes, paying between 6-25% of their total income on energy. An updated report from ACEEE shows that a quarter of low income households in Rochester pay 21% or more of their income to RG&E. The foreign corporation that owns RG&E is draining our community of resources while leaving us out in the cold.

Many have heard of the opposition from County Executive Adam Bello. Just to provide some context the County voted down funding for a public utility study in April 2024, when 2 Democrats sided with the Republican caucus to block it. Bob Duffy, the President & CEO of the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce, is paid over $240,000 a year to sit on RG&E’s parent company (Avangrid)’s board. The son of area Congressperson Joe Morelle is the Senior Vice President of the lobbying firm that lobbies for Avangrid. RG&E was bought out by Avangrid in 2008, which is owned by Iberdrola (not a local company by any means), the 2nd largest utility company in the world.

The community is still looking to Rochester leaders to lead in the face of the RG&E crisis. despite the County's position Rochester residents still deserve a future in which we are no longer beholden to a profit-driven, foreign company for our basic energy needs. City residents are the hardest hit by RG&E’s insane bills and neglect. We also deserve a future where the renewable energy transition is accessible to everyone, not just those who own their own homes and have good credit and upfront money. 

Since this issue is so pivotal to many voters around Rochester Metro Justice  sent out questions at the beginning of the month to those running for elected office in Rochester, to get their stance on this issue. We will be releasing the results of the questionnaire at the Report Card Rally Wednesday April 30^th 2025 5:30PM- 6:30PM at Rochester City Hall. 

To join us at the Rally RSVP below!