BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

CANTON -- National Grid officials say utility bills are rising due to factors outside of their control but one legislator has pushed back on the state’s system, questioning why hydroelectric power is not benefiting county residents. 

Rather, the system in place under current legislation passed by state lawmakers in 2019 plays a larger role in energy bills, according to Alberto Bianchetti, director of corporate affairs for National Grid. 

Bianchetti was on hand during the county legislature's March 9 Operations Committee meeting to address rising concerns throughout the county. 

Also in attendance was National Grid External Affairs Manager Andrea Smith. 

Utility bills and the components 

Bianchetti detailed how bills are weighed, with supply and delivery entailing the two major components. 

He said National Grid passes the cost of supply, whether electricity or natural gas, on to customers at cost. 

Delivery costs include construction, maintenance, material, storm response, taxes and fees related to operation, Bianchetti said. 

Ultimately those costs pay for investments in the network, including projects like the Smart Path and Smart Path Connection transmission lines. 

Bianchetti said National Grid is indifferent as to where energy comes from, insisting the energy firm always aims to secure supply at the cheapest rate possible. 

"We'll buy from any energy provider," Bianchetti said. 

Though National Grid purchases utilities on behalf of customers, Bianchetti said about 15% of customers do not. 

"It varies by account in St. Lawrence County," he said. 

Winter weighs heavy

Bianchetti said the winter weather has been a real "one, two, three punch" as colder temperatures settled in during January and February. 

He noted a stretch of "10 to 12 days in January" that did not see temperatures above the teens, driving demand higher. 

He said temperatures were 12% colder this winter, driving demand higher. 

Prices for the supply of natural gas and electricity have gone up around 30% as well. 

"Consequently you're using more and the price of the product has gone up significantly," he said. 

Natural gas in particular is relevant as it is mostly used for space heating, he said. 

Bianchetti said the supply mix is one that National Grid focuses on, in particular during winter, as they hedge a portion of winter supply to "shield customers from market volatility." 

Independent of National Grid, the New York Independent System Operation (NYISO) manages the market, including supply from generators and operators of the grid, Bianchetti noted. 

Power generation mixed bag in county 

While St. Lawrence County is home to one of the largest hydro-electric power generators in the state, Bianchetti said the mixture of power generation that is supplied to the county doesn't necessarily reflect that. 

Roughly 57% of power is generated with natural gas, with 14% coming from hydro, 20% from nuclear power and 9% from renewables. 

Bianchetti said natural gas helps balance the market to ensure demand is met when the grid peaks, in particular during the summer months. 

In 2025, Bianchetti said that peak came between July 15 and August 15 when temperatures soared and grid demand rose even higher. 

"As electrification of the economy continues its pace has been uneven but it's certainly heading in one direction. The state is evolving into a dual peaking utility," Bianchetti said. 

Legislator questions power generation 

But the idea that only 14% of power consumed in the county is hydroelectric drew push back from one legislator. 

Legislator John Gennett commented that the North Zone, which includes St. Lawrence County, has "one of the best, most stable grids" because of hydroelectric power generation. 

"We reject a lot of power based on schemes (in place)," he said. 

Gennett called NYISO the 'Ebay of electricity," saying power purchasing is an auction that negates the cost effectiveness of power generation in the North Country. 

Bianchetti admitted that St. Lawrence County was "likely an exporter of power" given the amount of power generated here. 

He said he also understood why many have long argued the county and surrounding areas should benefit directly from having a hydroelectric producer in Massena. 

But Bianchetti said it's a matter of the model established by the state, saying the clearing price is set by the last megawatt that comes online. 

In such models, the last megawatt that comes online typically comes from the most inefficient producer, which usually is the most expensive as well. 

Bianchetti said even though the county plays host to a number of solar arrays, the cost of that power is not the base price of the market. 

Gennett said renewable energy "are nothing to what we produce," pointing to the figures that demonstrate the sheer volume of hydro power created. 

He said has grown concerned with the current model, questioning what will happen when microchip giant Micron comes online in the future. 

"You need natural gas to make chips for one thing," he said. 

Gennett said a "big shift" was coming when Micron comes online, which would have a significant impact on the market. 

"It's throwing a pretty delicate infrastructure into disarray," Gennett said. 

He commented further rejection schemes should be in place for power sales and allocation. 

"There's a lot (of power) to put into the grid. That doesn't mean it's done efficiently though," he said. 

Bianchetti agreed, saying National Grid was building new transmission lines, "sometimes to the conservation of some" to deliver that power more effectively. 

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