A deepening financial crisis is unfolding in households across New York as rising utility costs push families to their limits. More than 1.2 million New Yorkers are currently behind on their gas and electric bills, collectively owing between $1.8 and $2.3 billion. In New York City and Westchester alone, nearly 16% of Con Edison customers ended the last year in arrears, with an outstanding debt of almost $950 million. This is not just a statistic; it is a portrait of families, seniors on fixed incomes, and small businesses struggling under the weight of unmanageable expenses.
This mounting debt coincides with a pattern of frequent rate hikes requested by utility companies like Con Edison, National Grid, and NYSEG, and consistently approved by the Public Service Commission (PSC), a small body of Albany appointees. As consumer bills escalate, so do the utilities’ guaranteed returns, yet there is little evidence of state government asking fundamental questions on behalf of the public: Are these increases justified? Do they include affordability protections? If utilities over-collect or under-spend, is that money returned to ratepayers or does it simply bolster their bottom line?
This gap in oversight points directly to the State Comptroller’s office, which is mandated to serve as New York’s independent fiscal watchdog. The office has the authority to audit state agencies like the PSC, yet consistent, rigorous reviews of the rate-setting process have been absent. There has been no sustained effort to determine whether affordability was meaningfully considered, if projected costs aligned with actual spending, or if the pattern of approvals is driving bills unnecessarily higher. The system continues unchecked: utilities file for increases, the PSC votes to approve, bills rise, and the state’s fiscal watchdog remains silent.
The consequences of this inaction are not abstract. For working families, seniors, and small businesses, these rate increases—often 25–35% since 2020—represent a significant and recurring financial strain. The pressure is compounded as everyday ratepayers effectively subsidize the escalating energy demands of new high-load users, such as data centers and AI facilities, which often negotiate discounted rates.
The Comptroller’s role should be to treat every dollar on a utility bill as a public dollar deserving protection. I am running for this office because New Yorkers can no longer afford this lack of scrutiny. An active Comptroller must audit how the PSC evaluates rate hikes to ensure affordability is a central consideration. They must trace the flow of money in major state-backed energy deals to see who truly benefits, and publicly challenge a system where ratepayers shoulder the financial risks while investors and utilities collect guaranteed returns. Furthermore, the Comptroller has a duty to explicitly inform the Legislature of the new tools needed to protect consumers—and fight to secure them.
While modernizing our energy grid is essential, it cannot be accomplished on the backs of households and small businesses already at their breaking point. Without genuine oversight and accountability, the burden will remain unfairly distributed. Every dollar on a utility bill is a test of where state government’s priorities lie. New Yorkers deserve a vigilant watchdog who treats their money with the same care they do. If given the chance to serve, that is the commitment I will bring to the office.
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