Westchester Democrats at Press Conference rejecting the proposed settlement with Con Ed for rate increases
By Dan Murphy
Last week, we reported on an agreement reached between Con Edison and 41 Westchester municipalities, which significantly reduces the proposed rate increase for both gas and electric energy.
The Westchester Municipal Consortium (WMC) announced that a three-year settlement agreement (known as a Joint Proposal) has been formally reached between Con Edison, the PSC staff, and other parties.
Con Edison’s original proposed electric rate increase of 13.4% has been reduced to 2.8% on the total customer bill under the settlement. On the gas side, the original proposed 19% increase has been reduced to 2% on the total customer bill. The agreement spans January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2028, with similar annual increases of approximately 2.8% (electric) and 2.0% (gas) in the second and third years.
“While the reductions do not go as far as we had proposed, they are a substantial move in the name of affordability, and the requirements for more disclosure and transparency on capital projects and the costs of overhead vs. underground systems are major gains for our County,” said Joel Dichter, Counsel for the Westchester Municipal Consortium. “This outcome reflects how much can be accomplished when Westchester’s municipalities stand together for a common goal.”
“There is no doubt that Westchester’s municipalities banding together had a substantial impact on the results,” said Hastings-on-Hudson Mayor Nicola Armacost, who is also President of the Westchester Municipal Officials Association. “This collaboration ensured our communities were heard at the state level and will continue to give us a voice in how utility investments are made in Westchester.”
“I’m proud of the work we put into this, and I’m particularly proud that each of Pelham’s municipal entities stood united in this fight. My sincerest thanks to Pelham Manor Mayor Lapey, Town Supervisor McLaughlin, and each of our respective boards for their unified commitment to this effort. This is an excellent outcome for our residents,” said Village of Pelham Mayor Chance Mullen.
But this week, prominent Westchester democrats joined County Executive Ken Jenkins to oppose the settlement agreement reached between Con Edison and the WMC. This puts Democrats like State Senator Shelley Mayer, who opposes the compromise, on the other side of this argument. At the same time, supporters like Greenburgh Supervisor Paul Feiner say, “Greenburgh joined a consortium of 40 municipalities that joined forces, hired an experienced attorney, and fought to lower Con Ed’s proposed rate hikes.”
A spokesperson for Con Edison said, “The Joint Proposal is the result of an 11-month, highly inclusive process led by the Public Service Commission, engaging the broadest range of stakeholders to date. This process worked as designed, ensuring all voices were heard and producing a plan that balances the immediate affordability challenge with the investments necessary to maintain system reliability and resilience in the short term.
“Con Edison is acutely aware of the issue of affordability, which is why last year we provided more than $300 million of discounts to income-eligible customers in our energy assistance programs. This year, we advocated for the recently approved expanded energy affordability program, which will raise the income thresholds and allow for more customers to become eligible for bill discounts.”
Other supporters of the agreement include:
New York State Department of Public Service Staff (“Staff”), City of New York,
Alliance for a Green Economy (“AGREE”),
National Railroad Passenger Corporation (“Amtrak”),
Consumer Power Advocates (“CPA”),
Environmental Defense Fund (“EDF”),
Electrify America, LLC (“Electrify America”),
New York Energy Consumers Council (“NYECC”),
New York Power Authority (“NYPA”),
Retail Energy Supply Association,
“The results speak for themselves,” said New Rochelle Mayor Yadira Ramos-Herbert. “Teaming up with 39 other Westchester municipalities was not only unprecedented but ultimately an impactful effort that will bring real relief to Westchester County residents and businesses.”
Members of the WMC include: Ardsley, Bedford, Briarcliff, Buchanan, Cortlandt, Croton-on-Hudson, Dobbs Ferry, Eastchester, Elmsford, Greenburgh, Hastings, Irvington, Mamaroneck Town, Mamaroneck Village, Mt. Vernon, New Castle, New Rochelle, Ossining Town, Ossining Village, Peekskill, Pelham Manor, Pelham Town, Pelham Village, Port Chester, Rye Brook, Rye City, Rye Town, Scarsdale, Tarrytown, Yonkers, and Yorktown, Bronxville, Mt. Pleasant, North Castle, Pleasantville, Sleepy Hollow, Tuckahoe, and White Plains.
At the press conference announcing their opposition to the agreement, County Executive Jenkins, State Senator Mayer, Assemblymembers Dana Levenberg and MaryJane Shimsky, and Chris Burdick all had the same message: That the WMC did a good job, but not good enough.
Senator Mayer said, “I stand out as someone who is really calling into question the entire system of regulation of utilities. The WMC tried their very best to do the best they could get, and they did get something, but it wasn’t good enough.
“The problem is delivery charges. For 12 years, I have complained about Utility rates; I have testified and submitted testimony. None of it was relevant. None of it was considered, even though I represented hundreds of thousands of people.
“I want to really commend my colleagues (WMC) because they were in the fight and they actually pushed the envelope. But we all agree that the envelope was not pushed far enough,” said Mayer.
Assemblyman Burdick said, “This is totally unacceptable. The utility rates are already outrageous.”
Assemblymember Levenberg said, “And looking at a 5 to 7% increase over the next three years, I don’t believe any of our constituents are looking at income increases of that percentage.”
BOL Chair Vedat Gashi said, “This is an improvement on what was presented earlier, but it’s absolutely not enough. The rate hikes to this point have been unconscionable, and the proposed rate hikes are heartless and unacceptable.”
County Executive Jenkins said, “I am hopeful that the governor will be talking to not only the chair of the Public Service Commission, but to members.”
Jenkins and the BOL issued a statement, “Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins and the Westchester County Board of Legislators strongly reject the proposed rate increases recently announced as part of the Joint Proposal between Con Edison, the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC), and other parties.
“Families are already being stretched to the breaking point. Utility bills are skyrocketing while wages remain flat. We are hearing from seniors on fixed incomes, families juggling multiple jobs, and business owners barely staying afloat. A rate hike of this magnitude will force too many to choose between paying their utility bills and affording necessities like food, medicine, or childcare.”
After the democrats held their press conference, we reached out to members of the WMC for comment. Greenburgh Supervisor Paul Feiner said, “The consortium was able to get a rate reduction lowered—we had an expert in utilities hired by the WMC, and they got the best deal possible -nobody wants rate hikes and tax hikes, sometimes it’s unavoidable –the county, state, and Con Edison have bills to pay. ‘
“I would be thrilled -if it was 0%, but the county taxes are going up by 5% and I feel if county and local govt kept taxes at zero then we could say con ed doesn’t deserve over the years I have been critical of Con Ed outages-they have done a much better job,” said Feiner.
