Resident To File Complaint Over Electric Bill Hike

Tempers continue to flare in Greenport over a spike in both residential and commercial electric bills with which residents say they were hit without warning.

Resident William Swiskey said this week that he plans to file a complaint with the New York Power Authority about "what amounts to an unapproved electric rate hike through their power purchase adjustment, or PPA, charge by the Village of Greenport. A hike which, by their own admission, NYPA told them should not go through the PPA."

Earlier this week, the increase on the electric bill had some seeing red.

A letter to residents was posted on the Greenport Village website. Dated August 14, 2013, the letter discussed a purchased power adjustment.

"The operations of the Village's electric department have not changed, and the base rates are remaining the same," the letter reads. "However, certain long-term transmission contracts will expire on October 31, 2013. Similar contracts, used in the delivery of your purchased power, are more expensive. These contracts are necessary to protect the electric department's customers from the high transmission costs caused by the State's deregulated market for electricity."

The letter goes on to say that beginning in August, 2013, the purchase power adjustment will increase in both residential and commercial bills for a 28-month period.

"In an effort to ease the impact on our ratepayers, the end result is a cost 'pass-through' with an expected average monthly billing increase for the next 28 months" of:

$7.75 to $10.69 per month for residential customers and

$25.12 to $39.77 per month for commercial customers.

The letter also stated that the village is continuing to work with the New York Power Authority to identify other options to help ease the burden on electric customers.

The letter had some calling for answers.

"On the average residential bill this amounts to a 10 to 15 percent increase in electric rates," Swiskey said. "What are the facts surrounding this move? At the minimum, there should have been a full-blown public notification and hearing to explain and answer questions. I don't believe posting it as small link on the village website meets that obligation. I think this increase should be delayed until these actions are taken."

Swiskey wrote a letter to Greenport Village Mayor David Nyce, expressing his concerns.

Nyce did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Greenport village residents get their electricity, water and wastewater services from a facility on Moores Lane near the high school.

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