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 announced.
Community groups have been calling on county leaders to fund an independent investigation into replacing RG&E with a not-for-profit community-owned utility.
The City of Rochester had already pledged $500,000 to the study but needed the county to be on the same page before the funds could be used.
RG&E said it appreciates the Legislature’s vote, while advocates for the study said legislators should have given the idea a chance.
“In the past year-and-a-half, we have worked extremely hard to make improvements to customer service, reliability and resiliency,” RG&E communications manager Alexis Arnold said following Tuesday night’s vote. “This has all been a distraction, and now, more than 800 employees who work in Rochester are looking forward to continuing to focus on showing and proving to our customers they are our top priority.”
Metro Justice said it’s exploring other levels of government to pursue a public utility study.
“We deserve a real chance to make an informed choice about where our heat and electricity comes from. The Monroe County Legislature took that choice away from us today,” argued Mohini Sharma, organizing director for local grassroots organization Metro Justice. “But we don’t have to continue to let them do that. We can continue the fight.”