BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

MASSENA -- Governor Kathy Hochul is demanding the New York Power Authority put an end to a proposed rate hike of 256% that would hit families hard with "sky-high utility costs."

Under the proposal, families in St. Lawrence County could see their bills increase by $13 to $30 per month, according to St. Lawrence County legislators.

“Today, I'm calling for an end to the Power Authority's unacceptable proposal to raise electric rates on its customers statewide,” Governor Hochul said.

“Too many New Yorkers are already falling behind on their energy bills and I will do everything in my power to reign in these astronomical costs. While I recognize the Power Authority’s critical importance in providing invaluable, clean, baseload power from its large hydroelectric power plants Upstate, I expect NYPA to go back to the drawing board, shelve this existing proposal, and figure out a better way forward,” the governor stated.

The rate hike was also a major topic of discussion with the St. Lawrence County board of legislators during the Feb. 10 Operations Committee meeting.

Legislator Rita Curran proposed a resolution to oppose the rate hike request, highlighting the need to protect low-income and fixed-income families from the "dire consequences."

She urged residents to comment on the proposed hike in hopes of putting an end to the proposition.

“I understand we’ve had inflation but the last thing I think we should do is a 256% increase in the cost of power when people are trying to feed their children, keep the lights on and pay their taxes and do everything else they’re trying to do. I have not seen any of the employees that I work around get a 256% raise,” she said.

Curran said she doesn’t know how families “can carry this” and afford to pay for the increase.

“I will not support this (rate hike),” she said.

Legislator Harry Smithers questioned what rationale or justification NYPA claimed to justify the rate hike but Curran said to the best of her knowledge there was none.

“There are comments online that you can see. Basically, they just want an increase,” she said.

Curran said she wants to learn more about the request and to “see everyone’s books” before the proposal was weighed by state officials.

Legislator David Forsythe commented that the proposal was covered during a recent meeting of the St. Lawrence River Valley Redevelopment Agency meeting he attended.

He said Massena Electric Superintendent Andrew McMahon gave a presentation during the meeting, noting the proposed rate hike and how it would impact North Country residents.

In total, Preference Power Rates apply to hydroelectric sales to customers in 47 municipal electric systems, four rural electric cooperatives, three investor-owned utilities, the Tuscarora Nation, two transportation authorities, customers in neighboring states and host communities.

“Even if it’s a 100% increase it’s still too much,” Forsythe said.

“Hopefully they’ll reconsider this because it’s astronomical.”

The 60-day public comment period ends Feb. 24.

All written comments on the rate proposal must be filed with NYPA’s Corporate Secretary by emailing secretaryoffice@nypa.gov.

In addition to the filing comments, NYPA held two public forums, one in Niagara and a second in Albany.

All submissions received during the public comment period, including statements received during the public forums, will be considered before a final rate recommendation will be presented to the NYPA Board of Trustees at its July 2025 meeting.

“Under the new proposal, NYPA plans to implement a phase-in to the cost-of-service rates to mitigate annual customer bill impacts. The rates, which have not changed since 2014, will be modified to account for capital investments in the hydro plants and increased operating and general expenses. The new rates will become effective July 1, 2025,” NYPA officials said in a press release.

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