NYSEG Customers Face High Bills

More and more people in New York are upset with New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) over high bills. Many say they don’t understand why their bills have doubled or tripled, and they aren’t getting clear answers from NYSEG.

A public workshop is scheduled to be held at the Sullivan County Government Center, 100 North Street, Monticello, NY 12701, on February 27 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and then from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. to discuss the issue.

The workshop, led by Assemblymember Paula Kay (D-100) and State Senator Peter Oberacker (R-51), will give customers a chance to ask questions and have their bills reviewed. “My office has been flooded with NYSEG bills from people asking for help,” Kay said. “It’s clear that usage has gone way up on many bills, and I don’t think cold weather is the only reason.”

Customers Share Frustration

People in different parts of the state are seeing massive increases in their electric bills. Cindy Hall, from Unadilla NY, said, “There were months when we didn’t get a bill at all, then suddenly we’d get a $3,000 bill. When I called, they’d tell me I didn’t owe anything, and then I’d get hit with a bill I couldn’t afford to pay.”

Hall has filed complaints with the Public Service Commission and even reached out to Elon Musk to find other energy options. But NYSEG hasn’t given her any real answers. “They told me, ‘This is your usage. Pay it or we shut off your electric,’” Hall said.

Ryan Holland, who lives south of Buffalo, is also frustrated. “I’ve seen my bill go from $300 to $500 to $710 in just a few months. And I don’t even use electric heating,” he said. Holland, who owns a propane business, mostly uses propane for heating and appliances. “I feel like I’m paying for premium electricity, but no one at NYSEG can explain why.”

In Sullivan County, Mario Dubovici has seen the same problem. “The bills have been crazy lately, sometimes 30-50% more month over month, even though my usage hasn’t changed,” he said. He thinks NYSEG’s new smart meters might have something to do with it, but the company says they don’t affect rates.

Julie James from Sidney, NY, and her husband, who receives rental assistance, are struggling with their NYSEG bill. “Our NYSEG bill has been over $500 since the winter started. The delivery charge alone is over $200. We’ve been sitting in our house in winter jackets since December because we cannot afford the bill,” she said. “Since December, with no heat on, our bill is still reading an insane amount of usage. My landlord and maintenance worker checked, and nothing else is running on our meters. We can see our breath inside our home, and still, there’s no change in our bill.”

Ralene Sabine from Madison County, who has lived in the same home for 13 years, shared a similar experience. “My normal winter bill runs under $400, but January’s bill was $516. Then February’s bill came, and it was $871.55—my heart sunk. My rent is only $25 more. NYSEG said customers would see a $10 per 600kWh increase, but that would only be about $60-70 extra for me, not more than double last year’s bill,” she explained. “I’ve had the same heating system for years. It doesn’t have a thermostat—it just heats bricks overnight and radiates warmth throughout the day. I haven’t changed anything, but my bill has skyrocketed.”

Karen Meneghin, who helps run the ‘My NYSEG Bill Doubled’ Facebook group, said the state needs to step in. “We have over 1,200 signatures on a petition calling for a statewide investigation. This isn’t just happening here—this is a problem across New York,” she said. “People shouldn’t have to choose between paying their electric bill and buying food.”

NYSEG says supply costs, a colder winter, and grid improvements are the reasons for the higher bills. But many people don’t buy that explanation. Lawmakers and customers are calling for an independent audit to see if these increases are really needed.

At the upcoming workshop, NYSEG President Patricia Nilsen is expected to address customer concerns, review bills, and check meters for customers who have extreme charges. Assemblymember Kay said she is going to keep pushing for answers. “NYSEG has promised that they will look into every bill we give them. But if this is a bigger issue, we need more action.”

NYSEG suggests customers reach out to their customer service team or look into budget billing programs here.