No Hikes, No Shut Offs, Public Power NOW! 

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From: Metro Justice, United Christian Leadership Ministry, Rochester DSA, Free the People Roc, City-Wide Tenant Union, VOCAL NY Rochester, Being Black in the Burbs, Federation of Social Workers, and RocACTS

To: Rochester Gas & Electric, Governor Hochul, Public Service Commission, Monroe County Executive Adam Bello, Monroe County Legislators, Mayor Malik Evans, Rochester City Council Members, Rochester Delegation

Metro Justice and members of the Rochester for Energy Democracy (RED) Campaign and allies rallied and spoke to City Council Thursday evening at City Hall to highlight the seriousness of the recent RG&E Audit, the close ties of RG&E to the Chamber of Commerce, and current City leadership’s refusal to act on a Phase 1 study, using already reserved funds.  

“The audit shows dramatic security and compliance concerns and a lack of planning and leadership at the utility level. In the face of such glaring evidence, will City leaders continue to refuse to act?” asked LaWanda Shipman, Vice President, Federation of Social Workers and President of Metro Justice. “A Phase 1 study that covers the city and county does not cost more than what the City already said they’d cover, and if they actually want to move this forward, it’s the way to get the County on board. We serve the city residents who are most impacted by the abuses of RG&E’s multinational owners and by the City’s delay - we can’t wait any longer.”

The groups are calling on the City to allocate already reserved funds for a Phase 1 study on replacing RG&E with a public utility. 

“When we voted for Mayor Evans, Melendez and other council members, we were looking for champions for our community and they are failing. They say they want to build with the community - Well how do you have $500,000 and you don’t think enough of the citizens who are mostly the marginalized and poorest and working poor of this city, and you don’t think we’re worthy to have that study performed? It is now time for them to step up.” expressed Lentory Johnson of Generational Engagement Matters. 

“The audit showed that basically nothing - planning nor leadership, happens at the utility level - it’s all at the level of their national holding company, and leadership doesn’t even know what’s happening at the RG&E level or where money is going. That in this context City leadership in power including Malik Evans, Miguel Melendez and Mitch Gruber continue to refuse to act while Bob Duffy is paid over $240,000 a year to sit on RG&E’s parent company (Avangrid)’s board makes you wonder - who is delay on the study serving?” asked Dr. Michi Wenderlich, Metro Justice Campaign and Policy Coordinator. 

Metro Justice also has released a Public Power Report Card outlining what candidates in the upcoming Primary have committed City leadership on a study, and which have refused. Those identified as most committed to city leadership on a study include Mary Lupien, Stanley Martin, Chiara “Kee Kee” Smith, Kelly Cheatle, and Kevin Stewart.

James Bearden, Third Act Rochester added: “Rochester Third Act Elders are part of a national community of Americans over sixty determined to use our generational power to face the existential crises of climate change and democracy threat. RG&E has for decades put profit before community interest. In 1975 Genesee Valley People’s Power Coalition challenged a RG&E proposed rate got the Public Service Commission to reduce the rate increase. Of course that was not the end of the story, RG&E has long been a bad actor. By 1980 GVPPC began to advocate for the city to fund a feasibility study on municipal power. Some of us were active in GVPPC and we have not changed our minds. We believe that a public utility company would provide more and better jobs for people living in Rochester, better service, lower energy costs, and community first policies. We urge Rochester City Council to put aside political differences and fund the preliminary study. Let’s find out if we can all work together to improve the lives of people in our community.”

Details: 

While the progressive block of Council and almost all challengers in the City Primary have committed to using funds already reserved to move forward with a City-led public utility study to investigate replacing RG&E, Mayor Evans, Council President Melendez, Mitch Gruber, Bridget Monroe, Michael Patterson, and Lashay Harris have refused to commit.

In the context of opposition from County Executive Adam Bello, 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, the 2nd largest utility company in the world. Rochester’s energy burden (the proportion of income for energy) is third highest in the country.

A recent audit of RG&E commissioned by the PSC revealed truly shocking information, including that “Avangrid does not develop operational plans to achieve goals related to NYSEG and RG&E,” that there is a “lack of a cohesive asset-management strategy,” severe gas safety and cybersecurity compliance issues, that "Avangrid failed to maintain basic records for completed electric and gas capital projects," and that “Avangrid’s organizational governance does not comply with NYPSC.” Additionally, Avangrid excludes large amounts of customers to improve customer service metrics; core utility functions are performed by two unregulated service companies, and Avangrid lied about climate planning, saying it was  happening in a committee that does not exist. “Avangrid’s ‘regional’ utility operating model results in a lack of management focus on the needs of NYSEG’s and RG&E’s electric infrastructure.”

Its corporate structure and subcontracting obscure where money is going and “whether costs are being allocated appropriately.” According to the PSC press release, “The NOAV [notice of apparent violations] also alleges potential violations concerning maintaining customer billing records, and its billing procedures that resulted in prolonged estimated meter readings. On gas safety, the NOAV alleges that NYSEG and RG&E have not complied with the regulatory requirements for reporting their response times to gas leaks or emergencies.  Lastly, on electric reliability, the NOAV alleges that NYSEG has not met enforceable reliability service standards for six consecutive years, despite paying Negative Revenue Adjustment payments for these failures and despite Commission approval of larger budgets for capital and maintenance programs in the last two rate cases.  

Finally, the PSC had this to say about Avangrid’s comments on the audit: “We disagree with the Companies that the 41 interviews conducted by NorthStar in this audit diminished NorthStar’s understanding of Avangrid’s and the Companies’ management and operations. Further, Staff attended all 41 interviews and observed that many Avangrid personnel did not have a sufficient understanding of NYSEG and RG&E operations to answer NorthStar’s questions.” 

Recently, over 40 faith, labor, anti-poverty and community organizations and businesses signed an Organizational Sign on Letter asking the City to use already reserved funds for a Phase 1 study. 

By releasing the full draft regulations for New York’s Cap and Invest program and beginning the process of implementation, the Governor and State Legislature can add $3-5 Billion to the State Budget in the face of Federal Cuts, lower costs for New Yorkers, and provide much needed funds to Rochester. Call on Hochul and the State to take action at this link!

New York For All and other bills will safeguard communities

Feb 12: Local Residents, Metro Justice and Unions Speak Out Against RG&E Shut off Crisis and Call Leaders to Act as Shut Offs Triple with Record Profits

BREAKING: RG&E Shut Offs Triple in 2024 to over 13,000; Profits Raise to $122 million

Los inmigrantes son nuestros vecinos:

¡No más deportaciones racistas!

Mientras que la administración racista de Trump envía a ICE a secuestrar a nuestros vecinos inmigrantes, y los líderes locales no hacen nada para detenerlo, la tarea de defender a los inmigrantes recae en la propia comunidad. To read in English, click here.

La administración Trump tardó solo unos días en iniciar arrestos y deportaciones masivas. Las redadas de ICE están destrozando familias en comunidades de clase trabajadora en todo el país. Por orden de un presidente nacionalista blanco cuya agenda es servir a los ricos.

Immigrants are our Neighbors:

No More Racist Deportations!

As the racist Trump administration sends ICE to abduct our immigrant neighbors, and local leaders do nothing to stop it, the job of defending immigrants falls to the community itself. Para leer en español, haga clic aquí.

It only took a few days for the Trump administration to start mass arrests & deportations. ICE raids are tearing families apart in working class communities all over the country. On the orders of a white nationalist President whose agenda is to serve the rich.

The nursing home industry hoped to block the important law (PHL 2828) through litigation. However, like the lawsuit to block the minimum staffing law, the state appellate court has just ruled against them. It is because of advocates including Elder Justice Committee of Metro Justice that these laws were enacted.   

In a win for Rochester’s public power movement, Rochester City Council voted Tuesday night to keep $500,000 in the City budget to lower energy bills for Rochester residents. The flexibility of the resolution allows these funds to be used for a city-led study on replacing RG&E with a public utility. Unlike last year’s resolution, this year’s resolution does not require Monroe County or New York State to lead the study in order for the City to release these funds.