Opposition Emerges To Latest O&R Rate Hike Request

One of Rockland’s town supervisors says he is opposed to Orange and Rockland Utilities’ latest rate hike request and has asked the state Public Service Commission to give his town “intervenor” status to be closely involved with the rate case.

Ramapo Supervisor Christopher P. St. Lawrence was blunt in calling the proposed hike a “handout.”

 “At a time when people are struggling to pay their bills and make ends meet, it is outrageous that Orange and Rockland would once again come knocking on the ratepayers’ door looking for a handout,” said St. Lawrence.  “The Public Service Commission must not allow Orange and Rockland to balance their budget on the backs of seniors on fixed incomes and families that are already shouldering a heavy financial load.  By going back to the Public Service Commission with yet another rate hike request and looking for a guaranteed rate of return in today’s tenuous economic climate, Orange and Rockland is seemingly turning a blind eye to the monumental fiscal challenges that our families presently face.”

On July 29, O&R filed a request with the PSC for an electric base rate increase of $17.7 million.  If the request is approved, the average ratepayer would see the monthly electric bill increase 3.2 percent beginning July 2012.

The rate hike request comes just after the state approved a rate hike that boosted the average ratepayer’s monthly bill by 2.7 percent.

 This is not the first time Ramapo has sought to be an intervenor in a utility rate hike proposal. 

“Having served as an intervenor in the United Water Rate case as well as the last Orange & Rockland Electric and Gas rate cases before the Public Service Commission, I am familiar with the responsibility of being an intervenor and look forward to working with the Public Service Commission,” St. Lawrence said.