On July 9, 2025, a wave of opposition swept through Westchester County as AARP New York, local officials, and concerned residents voiced strong resistance to Con Edison’s proposed rate hikes exceeding $2 billion. The New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) held two public hearings at the Westchester County Center in White Plains, providing a platform for the public and officials alike to challenge the utility giant’s ambitious plan to raise electric and gas rates.
Con Edison’s request, initially filed in January 2025, seeks to increase electric delivery rates by about $1.6 billion and natural gas delivery by roughly $440 million. If approved, this would translate to an average monthly increase of $27 for electricity and $46 for gas bills, pushing already high utility costs even higher. The utility’s rates are among the highest nationally, a fact that has only fueled the backlash.
"There are millions of older New Yorkers living in Con Edison’s service area, including nearly 800,000 AARP New York members, and many of them are on moderate, low or fixed incomes," said Beth Finkel, AARP New York State Director. "AARP strongly believes the PSC should reject the Con Ed proposal and work with all the stakeholders to bring the rate increase down to a significantly more manageable level." Representing nearly 400,000 Westchester residents over age 50, AARP has been a vocal advocate against the hike, emphasizing the devastating impact on seniors and vulnerable households.
The numbers paint a stark picture: as of May 2025, 377,000 households within Con Edison’s territory were more than 60 days behind on their monthly bills, collectively owing $845 million. Even more alarming, nearly 120,000 households—carrying over $200 million in debt—received final termination notices that same month. These figures underscore the financial strain many are already under, long before the proposed increases would take effect.
Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins, who testified at the PSC hearing and has been an outspoken critic, described the hikes as "unfair, unaffordable and unacceptable." Jenkins, who recently signed legislation making Westchester a formal party to the state’s major rate case against Con Edison, highlighted the human toll: "Families across Westchester are being pushed to the breaking point. Seniors on fixed incomes, working parents and small business owners cannot afford to pay more for an essential service while wages stay flat and inflation rises. Forcing people to choose between heating their homes and putting food on the table is simply wrong."
Jenkins acknowledged the importance of investing in reliable infrastructure and clean energy but insisted that progress must not come at the expense of affordability. His remarks echoed the concerns of dozens of residents who spoke at the hearings, many recounting how their bills have already skyrocketed.
Elmsford resident Pauline Quinones lamented, "I look at a lot of our salary increases that we might get on a year-to-year basis, and it's a fraction of the percentage that they're asking for." Greenburgh’s Diane Petrillo shared her painful decision: "I cannot afford Con Ed anymore. I'm looking to move." Yonkers resident Carol Beledo described her monthly bills surging from $600 to over $1,000 for just two people, forcing her to wear multiple sweaters and use space heaters in winter. "I still have to keep working. And this is like paying another mortgage," she said.
State Senator Shelley B. Mayer, present at the rally and hearings, called on the PSC to reject the rate hike outright. "The Public Service Commission has the opportunity to do the right thing for New York consumers and reject entirely Con Edison’s rate hike proposal," Mayer said. "Day after day, I hear from my constituents who are doing all they can to reduce their usage, yet their utility bills are increasing well beyond inflation, their incomes or Social Security." She has sponsored legislation aimed at preventing utility companies from charging ratepayers for high corporate salaries and excessive profits, efforts she vowed to continue.
Assemblymember Chris Burdick echoed these sentiments, stating, "My constituents, especially seniors on fixed incomes, are reeling from the spike in their utility bills that often force them to make the unacceptable choice between paying their rent or paying their utilities. I have called upon the Public Service Commission to reject these increases and direct Con Ed to go back to the drawing board." Assemblymembers Dana Levenberg and MaryJane Shimsky also voiced strong opposition, urging the PSC to honor its mandate to ensure "access to safe, reliable utility service at just and reasonable rates," and to deny Con Edison’s application.
Vedat Gashi, chairman of the Westchester County Board of Legislators, described the proposed hikes as "appalling," emphasizing the hardship faced by older residents already months behind on their bills. "No one should have to choose between heating their home and paying for medicine," he said, underscoring the human cost behind the numbers.
Adding to the chorus, White Plains Mayor Thomas Roach represented a consortium of 40 Westchester municipalities united against the rate increases. "Con Edison’s electric and gas rates are already among the highest in New York State and the nation, and they continue to rise faster than inflation," Roach said. "By forming this consortium, 40 Westchester municipalities are unified in urging the Public Service Commission to take a hard look at the exorbitant rates proposed by Con Edison, and to also determine whether our residents are unfairly subsidizing the high costs of service in New York City."
Con Edison defends the proposal as necessary to fortify the grid against increasingly severe weather, support New York’s clean energy goals, and maintain a workforce capable of swift customer service. The utility reported providing $300 million in bill discounts to low-income customers in 2024 and pledged to continue expanding these programs. However, for many residents, these measures fall short of offsetting the steep increases.
The PSC’s public hearings allowed residents to speak without written speeches, with each comment recorded for the official record. The commission will consider all testimony before making a decision, expected to affect bills starting January 1, 2026.
As inflation tightens household budgets and many New Yorkers struggle with basic expenses, the proposed Con Edison rate hikes have ignited a fierce debate balancing infrastructure investment with affordability. For Westchester’s seniors, families, and small businesses, the stakes could not be higher.
