NY’s climate policies are driving utility rate increase (Your Letters)

To the Editor:

I read your news article where Gov. Kathy Hochul slammed the Public Service Commission for the National Grid rate hikes, saying, “I have been crystal clear that utilities must make ratepayer affordability the priority.” ( “Whose fault is the big National Grid rate hike? Let the finger-pointing begin,” Aug. 14, 2025)

When the increases were first proposed in May, Hochul responded, “They can’t be passing that on to ratepayers. They have to find ways to economize and cut their costs.”

New York Democrats blame utility companies for rate hikes, but their climate policies are the cause. The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act mandated drastic reductions in greenhouse gases. The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative forces power plants to buy allowances for emissions.