Res. No. 174-A
Resolution calling upon Consolidated Edison to improve communication with City residents about increases in utility costs
By Council Members Velázquez, Yeger, Ung, Nurse, Narcisse, Bottcher, Restler, Ossé, Louis, De La Rosa, Dinowitz, Cabán, Lee, Avilés and Gennaro
Whereas, Consolidated Edison Company of New York (ConEd) supplies energy services to around 10 million people within New York City and Westchester County; and
Whereas, In 2020, ConEd reported $10.647 billion in operating revenues, with total assets amounting to $50.967 billion; and
Whereas, In January of 2022, City residents experienced dramatic and unexpected increases in their ConEd bills, caused by an increase in the cost of energy; and
Whereas, According to ConEd, the average energy price charged by power generators increased from $50 per megawatts per hour (MWh) in December 2022 to $140 per MWh in January of 2022; and
Whereas, This increase, coupled with the 10% increase in customer usage in January of 2022 due to cold weather, resulted in large monthly increases for City residents; and
Whereas, City residents reported increases of up to 300 percent in their gas and electric bills, a staggering surge that many New Yorkers cannot afford; and
Whereas, The financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is still affecting New Yorkers across the five boroughs; and
Whereas, The NYC Independent Budget Office predicts that New York City will not recover all of the jobs lost in 2020 until 2025; and
Whereas, Families in New York City who are struggling to pay rent should not have to choose between buying groceries and staying warm in their homes during the winter; and
Whereas, The unexpected increase of hundreds of dollars in gas and electric bills will further devastate households and force New Yorkers into greater debt; and
Whereas, ConEd has a robust notification system to alert City residents before major storms of the possibility of power outages; and
Whereas, City residents can sign up for ConEd’s text alert system, which updates residents on the expected severity of impending storms; and
Whereas, The purpose of this notification system is to equip City residents with the necessary time and information to prepare for potential outages; and
Whereas, Many City residents were shocked in February when they saw their gas and electric bills; and
Whereas, Had residents been made aware of the expected increases, they would have had more time to limit their utility usage, decreasing their January utility bills; and
Whereas, As soon as ConEd was aware of the increase in energy costs, they should have made it a priority to develop a comprehensive notification system to alert all New Yorkers about the impending price increases; and
Whereas, To ensure City residents are better informed of potential changes in their utility bills, ConEd should update customers monthly through text, mailed notices, and email on their energy forecasting so City residents know whether their utility bill will remain stable, increase, or decrease; now, therefore, be it,
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon Consolidated Edison to improve communication with City residents about increases in utility costs.
NM
LS #8,048
4/18/2022