Extremely high electric bills brings NYSEG to Monticello to meet their customers (VIDEO)
MONTICELLO – An unidentified woman screamed, “Know your rights” as she stood in line. Assemblywoman Paula Kay calmed down that angry New York State Electric and Gas (NYSEG) customer before a meeting she organized between the utility and their customers at the Government Center in Monticello on Thursday.
Kay planned the event in response to what some people are calling “skyrocketing” electric bills. Dozens of people showed up with their bills trying to get answers from the utility as to why. It was the first of two meetings scheduled for that day.
Shelby Cohen, the NYSEG public relations director, talked about what help the utility could provide for their customers.
“We wanted to bring our customer service representatives, our customer advocates, and some experts here today to meet one on one with customers and delve into their bills a little bit,” she said.
Danette Moore from Jeffersonville said that her bill has tripled.
“I paid $120 last month, and this month it’s $368.32. I have no new appliances, nothing to cause this kind of increase,” she lamented.
Shawn Williams from South Fallsburg echoes what she said.
”I usually spend about $200 a month in the winter. And now they got me for $600,” he said.
“People shouldn’t have to be deciding between paying their mortgage and buying food or shutting off their electricity,” Kay said. “ That’s not a choice that I’m going to allow any constituent in my district to have to make.”