CARMEL – Carmel Town Hall was filled to the rafters Thursday when scores of angry and frustrated residents bombarded New York State Electric and Gas Company staff with the same concern: “Why is my utility bill through the roof?”
A woman living in the Hunters Glen condominiums in Southeast called the situation “horrible. My bill went from $125 to $400. When I called customer service I was told to ‘get your condo checked.’ I did and nothing was discovered. This is really crazy.”
A resident of Lake Carmel living on Social Security, asked, “What do I do? I have to pay for my medicines, my food. It’s getting to the point where I must make difficult choices which is terribly unfair.”
The retired educator said her utility bill had been averaging $300 monthly. “My last bill was $1,100 and I keep the house at 62 degrees around the clock.”
Another woman said her bill rose “astronomically. It doubled while family members have seen their bills triple to as much as $1,500 per month. Something is wrong. How are people supposed to survive,” said the resident of Mahopac.
A couple from Putnam Valley called for state intervention.
“Our bill is 75 percent higher. Last month we were charged $1,400 and we don’t live in a big house. I called the NYSEG phone number to complain. Good luck! After waiting on the line for 45 minutes I gave up. The entire situation is out of control and the consumer has no one to talk to,” said the man of the family.
Tables were set up throughout the meeting room at town hall where NYSEG representatives met with the frustrated customers who brought utility bills with them.
The consumers were advised higher bills resulted from colder temperatures this winter leading to a higher use of heating equipment.
A utility representative also said, “Customers with estimated reads before receiving their smart meters may see a higher bill because estimates based on the previous year’s usage, was low.”
Another reason expressed by the representatives was that “electricity prices have increased due to increased demand for natural gas which is used to generate electricity.”
Customers were also informed that energy prices in the marketplace often lead to bill variations.
Officials with NYSEG said the supply cost is a pass-through cost set by energy generators and suppliers that NYSEG must collect but has no control over adding, the company does not profit from supply charges.
Customers were also encouraged to consider setting up a budget billing program which spreads energy use and bills into an even monthly amount year round.
Leave a Comment