Letter To the Editor
New York is facing an energy affordability crisis. Electricity and utility bills have risen nearly 47% since 2019, and families across the Hudson Valley are feeling the impact every single month. As a local official, I receive calls from constituents almost daily about their utility bills. In many conversations, it has become the primary concern. Quite simply, people are struggling to afford their energy costs.
I would like to thank Rob Rolison for recently introducing an amendment in the New York State Senate that would suspend all utility bill taxes and surcharges for one year, along with a two-year green energy tax holiday. This proposal would provide immediate relief for every household and business that pays a utility bill.
Today, government taxes, fees, and mandates account for roughly one-third of a typical customer’s utility bill. Reducing or suspending these costs, even temporarily, would provide meaningful relief to families and small businesses in Putnam Valley, throughout Putnam County, and across New York State who are dealing with rapidly rising utility costs.
We have taken similar steps before when residents were facing financial pressure. In 2022, Putnam County temporarily removed the local tax on motor fuel and capped the sales tax at $2.00 per gallon from June 1 through December 1. The goal was to pass savings directly to consumers, and it worked.
People in our communities are struggling with affordability. They are asking for a plan—and they expect action.
The solution does not have to be complicated. We need a serious, immediate strategy to lower the cost of utility bills for New Yorkers.
William Gouldman, Putnam Valley
