In an unprecedented display of unity, Rockland County Executive Ed Day, five Town Supervisors, the Rockland County Legislature, Rockland Green, and the Rockland County Sewer District have collectively voiced their strong opposition to Orange and Rockland Utilities’ proposed $32 million rate increase. This coalition has retained Dichter Law LLC to formally challenge the rate hike before the Public Service Commission (PSC).
Orange and Rockland’s petition seeks a substantial boost in both electric and gas revenues, with an $18.1 million increase in electric revenues and a $14.4 million hike in gas revenues. This proposal comes as Rockland County residents already face some of the nation’s highest utility rates, alongside a major planned traffic disruption over the next two years.
“Costs are rising across nearly all sectors, and these proposed increases would place an even heavier burden on the people of Rockland County,” said County Executive Ed Day. “We cannot continue to have these exorbitant rate hikes. We are calling on the PSC to thoroughly review these proposals and protect our taxpayers.”
The sentiment was echoed by the town supervisors, who collectively expressed concern about the financial impact on their communities.
The key leaders opposing the rate hike include:
- Ed Day, County Executive
- Jay Hood, Chairman, Rockland County Legislature
- George Hoehmann, Supervisor, Town of Clarkstown
- Howard T. Phillips, Jr., Supervisor, Town of Haverstraw
- Teresa Kenny, Supervisor, Town of Orangetown
- Michael Specht, Supervisor, Town of Ramapo
- Jim Monaghan, Supervisor, Town of Stony Point
- Gerard M. Damiani, Jr., Executive Director, Rockland Green
