Trumansburg officials join larger push for NYSEG investigation

Federal, state and local elected leaders representing the village of Trumansburg and the town of Ulysses are pushing for the New York State Electric and Gas (NYSEG) utility to be investigated by state and federal regulators. 

At the April 14 meeting of the Village of Trumansburg Board of Trustees, Tompkins County Legislator Anne Koreman, a Democrat who represents Trumansburg, announced that the county legislature had voted on a resolution at their April 1 meeting calling on the New York State Legislature to investigate NYSEG. 

Days later, on May 16, U.S. Rep. Josh Riley, a Democrat who represents New York’s 19th Congressional District, encompassing Trumansburg, announced an investigation into NYSEG. 

Riley’s investigation and the county’s request of the state’s Public Service Commission to investigate NYSEG come amid reports from county residents that their utility bills have soared this past winter. 

Rep. Riley said in a release that his office has sent a formal request to NYSEG demanding detailed billing data, an explanation of recent rate hikes, and clarity on whether customer payments are contributing to corporate profits overseas. 

NYSEG is a subsidiary of Avangrid, Inc., an energy services and delivery company that serves about 3.1 million customers throughout New England, Pennsylvania and New York. Avangrid is headquartered in Connecticut, but its parent company, Iberdrola, is headquartered in Spain.

Riley said that his office invites residents to share their stories as part of a broader push for accountability and lower costs. 

“Growing up, I remember my parents would sit at the kitchen table each week, sorting our budget into envelopes–one for the mortgage, one for groceries, one for school clothes, and so on. Today, too many families across upstate New York have too many envelopes and not enough money to fill them,” Riley said in a press release. “Meanwhile, utility companies are jacking up rates and bragging to investors about record profits. Folks deserve answers and action, and that’s what I’m fighting to deliver.”

Riley is also gathering input directly from residents to better understand how rising utility costs are affecting families across the district. NY-19 constituents are encouraged to share their experiences, concerns and utility bill information through a brief survey here.

The company’s most recent three-year plan to raise rates was approved by the state’s Public Service Commission in 2023. The third phase of that increase, an average of $11.34 more on residents’ monthly electric bills and $4.10 on their gas bills, will start May 1.

“You sent me to Congress to take on the special interests and make it a little bit easier for you and your family to make ends meet, and that’s what this investigation is about,” Riley said in a press release.

At the county level, legislators are pushing the Public Service Commission to investigate NYSEG. 

“We’ve been hearing so many complaints about billing, lag time on repairs, maintenance, response in emergencies — things like that,” Koreman said. “So we asked for an investigation. Even at the county we’ve had erroneous billings.”

The Ithaca Times reported recently that the company has told media outlets that some of the erroneous billing being reported on social media by area residents is out of the company’s control. NYSEG’s Director of Corporate Communications Shelby Cohen attributed those higher bills to winter temperatures and the commensurate energy output. 

Other complaints made on social media, Cohen said, are examples of misinformation being spread on Facebook and Nextdoor, The Ithaca Times reported.  

“We feel it’s unfortunate that some have decided to ignore the facts and the information that has been provided to them, and chosen to make a confusing situation worse, with seditious social media posts that only serve to misinform customers rather than getting them the assistance that they need,” Cohen said.

Ulysses Connection appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com. Contact Eddie Velazquez at edvel37@gmail.com or on X (formerly Twitter) @ezvelazquez.

In brief:

The Trumansburg Conservatory of Fine Arts is sponsoring the Cayuga Arts Collective Annual (CayAC) Spring Show, titled “Heaven and Hell.” 

Opening night will take place May 2 from 5-8 p.m. at the Community School of Music and Art, located at 330 E. State St. in Ithaca.

“Curated by CayAC founders Domenica Brockman and Marina Delaney, the theme of heaven and hell is explored through the diverse visions of more than forty member artists,” reads a post on TCFA’s website. 

Live music will be provided by BIBA!, featuring Lynn Wiles and Jessica Custer-Bindel.

Light refreshments will be served.

For the duration of the exhibit, visitors are encouraged to participate in the People’s Choice Award. A ballot box will be available in the main gallery, offering everyone the opportunity to vote for their favorite piece.