News
Rochester Beacon: Another public utility feasibility study vote fails
Read the full article by Jacob Schermerhorn here. Supporters of a public utility feasibility study faced disappointment last night when a vote to advance that study failed in a 16-13 vote in the Monroe County Legislature. The bill would have allocated $1 million in the county’s budget for a study researching the viability of providing areas, currently served by Rochester Gas and Electric, with a public power option instead. Last year, Rochester City Council approved $500,000 in funding toward this study, but it was contingent on the county also contributing funds. “Of the nation’s 3,200...
Spectrum: Monroe County Legislature again rejects funding study on replacing RG&E with public utility
View the full story here. After more than a year of input and debate, the Monroe County Legislature has, for a second time, voted against funding a public utility study to look into the feasibility of replacing Rochester Gas & Electric with a non-profit community-owned utility. On Tuesday, legislators voted 16 to 13 against allocating $1 million to the study. The city of Rochester had promised to provide half of the funding if the county had agreed to move forward. Many, including some local lawmakers and grassroots organizations, have expressed frustrations with RG&E, pointing to...
WHAM: RG&E, community advocates react to Monroe County rejecting funds for public utility study
Rochester, N.Y. (WHAM)— The Monroe County Legislature has voted against funding a public utility study. Legislators voted 16-13 Tuesday night against committing $1 million for the study, which would explore replacing Rochester Gas & Electric with a public utility amid a wave of billing concerns and customer complaints. BACKGROUND: Protests call for removal of RG&E in favor of public utilities | Monroe County legislators clash over RG&E study Several people in the community who support a feasibility study chanted in the Legislature chambers after the vote's results were...
WHAM: Monroe County legislators vote against funding study on replacing RG&E with public utility
View the full piece here. UPDATE: The Monroe County Legislature voted Tuesday night against funding the study. 16 legislators voted against the measure, while 13 voted to approve it. Original story: Rochester, N.Y. (WHAM) — The possibility of replacing Rochester Gas & Electric with a publicly owned utility will be front and center for Monroe County lawmakers Tuesday night. Amid concerns about billing errors and customer service at RG&E, local grassroots organization Metro Justice has been campaigning for change. The group could edge closer to its goal Tuesday, as the Monroe County...
Rochester Beacon: Public utility advocates press for approval of study
Read the full story by Jacob Schermerhorn here. Four days after protestors rallied for a public utility feasibility study, Monroe County lawmakers will vote on the matter tomorrow evening. “The majority of Democrats support it, we just need one or two more votes to get this over the finish line, and then we need County Executive Adam Bello to sign the legislation once it’s passed,” Metro Justice organizing director Mohini Sharma said on Friday. Advocates for the feasibility study say it will prove that a nonprofit public utility would work for Monroe County to lower rates, as has been the...
News10NBC: New push for a public takeover of RG&E
Jennifer Lewke News10NBC Updated: March 20, 2024 - Watch the full clip here. ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The push to consider a public takeover of RG&E is back on. A number of community groups and labor unions want Monroe County to help fund a study to see whether it would be possible but the County Executive and the union that represents RG&E’s current workers, are strongly opposed. This isn’t the first time there’s been a public push for a community takeover of RG&E. Last year, the Rochester City Council agreed to set aside money to help fund a feasibility study but it was contingent...
WROC: Activists push Monroe County to fund RG&E takeover study
By Sydney Havens - March 20, 2024 ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Local activists are trying to take another step toward an RG&E takeover. The group behind the initiative, Metro Justice, has been pushing for a study which would determine the viability of turning RG&E into a public utility, rather than a private one — an idea brought on after years of frustration from activists and customers regarding billing issues and poor customer service. Rochester City Council approved $500,000 to support the study last June. Then county lawmakers rejected a proposal to put up $1 million to make it...
Rochester Business Journal: Proponents of public takeover of RG&E renew efforts for study; Bello still opposed
Kevin Oklobzija//March 20, 2024// Read Here Proponents of a public takeover of Rochester Gas & Electric have renewed their push for action, urging Monroe County Executive Adam Bello to approve funding for a study to determine the feasibility of taxpayer ownership. Metro Justice on Wednesday said legislation to fund a study will be introduced to the County Legislature in April for consideration and vote in May. The legislature voted down similar legislation in November by a vote of 17-12. The organization, with the backing of several labor unions, says investing the approximately $100...
DIVERSE GROUP OF ASSOCIATION, BUSINESS, AND LABOR LEADERS ANNOUNCE CITIZENS FOR RESPONSIBLE POWER COALITION
Coalition Aims to Educate New Yorkers on What Government-Controlled Power Would Mean for the Local Community, Economy, and Clean Energy Initiatives Rochester, NY - A group of associations, local businesses, and labor unions launched a campaign today to educate New Yorkers on the facts, realities, and impacts of a government-run and controlled power system. The 14 founding members of Citizens for Responsible Power support maintaining the responsible expertise of current energy and service providers in New York State. In November 2023, the Monroe County Legislature acted on a proposal to...
Finger Lake Times: Rely on utility experts like RG&E
LETTER: Rely on utility experts like RG&E Dec 5, 2023 To the Editor: The vocal minority — namely Metro Justice — was out in force at the most recent Monroe County Legislature meeting. The public comment portion of the meeting served as an opportunity for numerous members of the progressive, grassroots organization to flood the room with misinformation driving their push to take over and replace Rochester Gas & Electric. If the county were to move forward with a government-run utility, costs would increase in relation to purchasing assets, maintenance, facility operations, etc....