Assemblyman Brian Miller (R,C-New Hartford) today joined members of the Assembly Minority Conference in Albany to call for immediate relief for ratepayers and a major shift away from state energy mandates that are driving up costs and threatening grid reliability.

Residential electricity prices in New York have risen 47.1% since 2019, placing a growing burden on families and small businesses. Much of this strain stems from the state’s aggressive mandates under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), which have accelerated the retirement of reliable power plants while forcing a rapid transition before replacement generation is fully in place. At the same time, the New York Independent System Operator has warned of near-term grid reliability concerns as dispatchable energy sources are phased out faster than new capacity comes online.

 You can read a report on the high cost and low benefits of the CLCPA on their Web site.

Miller and his colleagues are advancing legislation to deliver immediate relief, including income-based rebate checks of up to $400 for ratepayers and requiring that surplus, uncommitted funds in NYSERDA’s Climate Investment Account be returned to customers as bill credits. These funds come from energy surcharges under the Public Service Commission’s Clean Energy Fund, and an estimated $2.4 billion could be sent back to taxpayers. T-he proposal also increases transparency by requiring utilities to notify customers of supply rate hikes of 40% or more and to inform them of available assistance programs.

Beyond immediate relief, Miller called for an all-of-the-above energy strategy that expands natural gas infrastructure, supports nuclear and renewables, invests in reliable generation and protects consumer choice by opposing mandates such as the zero-emission school bus requirement and the ban on natural gas hookups in new construction.

“Families across Central New York are being squeezed from every direction, and energy bills are becoming unmanageable. Albany’s mandates are raising costs while putting reliability at risk, and New Yorkers deserve energy choice, not more top-down decisions that ignore the real-world impact on working families. We can pursue cleaner energy goals, but we must do it in a way that keeps power affordable and the grid reliable. Our residents should not have to choose between heating their homes and paying for groceries. It’s time to reset our approach and put ratepayers first,” said Miller.