Public power a prime perk for Spencerport residents and business owners

Spencerport, N.Y. (WHAM) — For Phillip Demkos, owner of Union Street Coffee House in the heart of Spencerport, municipal electric keeps the business running.

“We’ve got over 30 items plugged in at once, and it keeps costs low,” he said. “Thankfully we have it. Otherwise, it could drive business out.

Demkos estimated he saves between 30-40% on his electric bill compared to Rochester Gas & Electric customers.

“It did spike a little bit over the winter, but it’s still relatively low compared to being outside of the village,” he said.

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Demkos said his family owned a restaurant in Fairport for nearly 40 years that had a similar situation.

“Also a village electric,” he said. “It benefited us quite a bit.”

Keith Bezon, Spencerport’s electric superintendent, said the program offers affordable power to nearly 3,000 customers.

“We’re able to use the hydropower from NYPA, which gives us cheap rates,” he said.

A Spencerport Muncipial Electric worker tends to a power line Monday, July 20, 2026. (Photo by Mark Schuman/WHAM)

Christopher Barnum, who used to live in Spencerport, said the cost is hard to beat.

“I’m paying anywhere between $130 and $160 a month, and that’s just for me by myself now,” he said. “That’s not with two people. I really, really do miss having Spencerport electric.”

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Bezon said prices aren’t the only advantage.

“I think one of the big things is our response time for outages,” he said. “We live pretty close, we’re within a half hour, all the guys at work.”

“We’re able to get in here, get things fixed back up and back out in probably a few hours normally.”