Utilities Seek Double-Digit Rate Increases ROCHESTER, NY (WXXI) - NYSEG and RG&E customers are facing higher monthly bills if delivery rate hikes proposed by the utilities today are approved by the state's Public Service Commission.

The average NYSEG residential bill for the delivery of electricity would go up $12.39 a month, or 18.6% more; natural gas customers would pay about $25.34 more per month, an increase of 17.4%. RG&E customers would see their monthly delivery bills increase about $11.86, or 16.1%, for electricity and $21.03, or 15.2%, for natural gas.

"We recognize this is a difficult time to request these increases," Michael Conroy, senior vice president and chief operating officer of NYSEG and RG&E, said in a statement. "However, electricity and natural gas supply costs have declined and are forecast to remain lower than in 2008, which would moderate the effect of the proposed rate increases on customers' total bills."

Utility officials say these would be the first rate hikes implemented in more than a decade - and they are necessary to meet increasing costs and update infrastructure. Even with the increases, they say, bills would continue to be among the lowest in the state.
© Copyright 2009, WXXI