Rate Hike Filed:
NYSEG expects customers to pay for their mistakes!

NYSEG claims it appointed a “New York CEO” to clean up its mess
but that new leader had already been in place for three years.

In May, the Department of Public Service issued a Notice of Apparent Violations (NOAV), ordering NYSEG and sister utility RG&E to respond by June 9, 2025 detailing how they would fix issues like botched billing, delayed estimated meter reads, ignored gas safety reporting deadlines, and six years of failed electric reliability.. NYSEG’s defense was that they “respect the hard work” of regulators and have reorganized so that “staff with only New York responsibilities” report to a dedicated New York CEO. However it has to be noted that Patricia Nilsen, was appointed back on July 1, 2022 and is based in Binghamton.

But regardless of titles, NYSEG’s next move exposes its priorities: on June 30, 2025, while still under audit and before a fix had been approved, the utility filed for a jaw-dropping $464 million annual increase in electric delivery revenues, a 35% boost, plus a separate 33% increase for gas delivery.That means the Public Service Commission (PSC) must now decide whether to reward a company still under investigation, essentially forcing consumers to foot the bill.

The saga reveals a troubling pattern: NYSEG avoids accountability by hiding behind structural fixes, only to push rate hikes before the PSC and public can evaluate its corrective plan. The PSC must weigh whether to approve higher rates under NYSEG’s promise of future fixes or hold the company accountable, demanding verifiable results before authorizing a single cent in additional charges.

If the PSC approves these increases, it sets a dangerous precedent: that utilities can fail customers, promise reform, and then demand payment all while accountability is still pending. Meanwhile, ratepayers are left wondering if their trust and wallets are being exploited.