CHENANGO COUNTY – Representatives of New York State Electric and Gas (NYSEG) were invited to speak to county officials during a monthly Board of Supervisors meeting on Monday to air some of the issues involving the utility company, including public criticism over power outages and a newly proposed rate increase that may take effect next year.

NYSEG spokesmen Arthur Klingler, Kerby Sainclair, and Tom Garrity addressed county board members during the meeting, outlining NYSEG’s recent initiatives to improve service and explain the rationale behind NYSEG’s proposed 23.6 percent increase in customers’ utility bill for a 12-month period ending in April, 2027.

NYSEG submitted a filing to the NYS Public Service Commission (PSC) on June 30 that requested an increase in annual electric revenues of approximately $464.4 million. The rate increase accounts for a 35 percent increase in base delivery revenues. NYSEG is asking for a return on equity of 10 percent of the rate year, which would result in a $32 million increase in revenues for electric service.

“We do not expect anyone anywhere to totally embrace our rate case,” Garrity told county leaders on Monday. “But people can sign on as stakeholders and interested parties – elected officials, developing companies, those types of things. There may be parts of this that you can support.”