Officials Demanded Lower Rates From Con Edison

The New York State Public Service Commission authorized a three-year rate increase plan for the utility company.

Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Utilities

Officials Demanded Lower Rates From Con Edison

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Mayor Zohran Mamdani and President Donald Trump have both voiced opposition to rate hikes for Con Edison customers in New York City and Westchester County. Despite this pressure, state regulators approved a three-year plan to raise electricity and gas delivery revenues.

Why it matters

The approved plan allows the utility to increase charges to fund infrastructure and grid modernization, a move that faced significant public pushback. More than 20,000 residents submitted comments during the regulatory process to express concerns over the rising costs.

Con Edison secured approval for an 11.3% increase in electricity delivery revenues and a 10.5% increase for gas delivery. Property taxes currently contribute approximately 5.4 cents per kilowatt-hour to the total cost of electricity for consumers.

The players

Zohran Mamdani

He is the Mayor of New York City and has publicly advocated for lower utility rates for local residents.

Donald Trump

He is the current President of the United States and has aligned with local officials to call for decreased utility costs.

Con Edison

It is the utility provider serving customers across New York City and Westchester County.

New York State Public Service Commission

This is the regulatory body responsible for overseeing and approving utility rate changes within New York State.

The details

Con Edison defended the requested revenue increases by pointing to necessary infrastructure investments and long-term reliability requirements. While officials have sought rate reductions, customers can utilize the Smart Usage Rewards program to earn incentives by reducing energy consumption during peak grid demand periods.

In November 2025, President Trump and Mayor Mamdani agreed that rates should be lowered.
The approved three-year rate increase plan will cover the period from 2026 to 2028.

Market Landscape

This decision follows the standard procedures established by the New York State Public Service Commission rate-setting process. It highlights the ongoing tension between utility providers seeking capital for grid modernization and political pressure to maintain affordable consumer pricing.

Residential customers will face scheduled annual increases in both electricity and gas bills through the end of 2028. Residents may mitigate these rising costs by participating in the utility's Smart Usage Rewards program to receive incentives for lowering usage during peak times.

The takeaway

The approval of the three-year plan underscores the difficulty of balancing infrastructure modernization with consumer demand for lower utility costs. Residents should track their energy usage and look for incentive programs to help manage the projected increases in their monthly bills.