An upstate Democrat in a district stung by the state Public Service Commission’s approval of double-digit gas and electric rate hikes last week wants to give lawmakers the power to reverse price bumps they don’t like.

Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara, D-Amsterdam, introduced a bill to create the Utility Rate Hike Legislative Review Act one day after the PSC backed gas and electric hikes of $50 per month over three years for National Grid. A three-year series of rate hikes is coming for Central Hudson customers too — announced on Aug. 14, they'll result in customers paying around $18 more per month for electricity and $31 more per month for gas.

“Essential services like electricity and heat should not see price increases without a thorough public process and an opportunity for the Legislat

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