By MICHELLE J. ROBINSON wpix.com
3:56 p.m. EDT, April 3, 2011
New Yorkers may’ve dodged a big bullet in the guise of double-digit rate hikes in their electricity bills scheduled for May 28, Memorial Day Weekend.
Senator Charles Schumer vowed Sunday to fight a ruling by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that decided power companies needed an extra $500 million a year in profits, that would translate into residential rate hikes between 10 to 12 percent for regular folks and 14 percent for businesses.
Published reports say Schumer spoke Friday with FERC Chairman Jon Wellinghoff, who is reportedly open to taking another look at the matter. Schumer says there should be a hearing with the next week or two.
As things stand, the average electric bill for a typical city apartment is around $74, calculated on 250 kilowatt hours of power usage a month. That bill would jump to $86 dollars, $12 more than it was in July 2010. The hikes will come on top of a 4 percent rate increase the state OK’d for Con-Ed, which took effect Friday — and was no April Fool’s joke.
Businesses will be even more hard-hit. For example, a small company with an electric bill of $406 in July 2010 will have to fork over $477 in July 2011, a nearly 20 percent increase.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg has joined Schumer in the fight to keep the rates down, this as the New York congressional delegation fires off a letter doing the same.
Con-Ed — which stands to gain nothing from the FERC ruling — also opposes the hikes.
_________________________________________
Save your business EVEN MORE money AT NO COST to the company. Contact us today to request your company’s FREE Electricity Rate Analysis. Click here to request your FREE rates analysis. Our team will find the best rates for your companies’ energy needs. Have the professionals shop for your company, at no cost to your company!
If you have any questions, be sure to contact one of our a support services representatives at: 866-572-2274. If we are away, please leave a message and we will get back with you as soon as possible. We look forward to serving as your energy advocates!
