The recent news story in The Daily Star (and elsewhere) about the proposed rate increase by the New York Power Authority (NYPA) relates to part of your monthly bill. Your monthly bill will not triple due to this proposed increase. NYPA charges Otsego Electric Cooperative for system-wide wholesale power and it is allocated to each member based on actual usage during the past month. This distinction may have created unnecessary concern and confusion about your future monthly bills. However, your bills will eventually go up. The proposal has not yet been put into effect. OEC has estimated that the proposed increase, if enacted in full, could result in about a $9/month increase after the fourth year for our average household using 792 kWh. We are hopeful that the proposed increase will be reduced by negotiation efforts which have already started between OEC and all of the municipalities and cooperatives in NY that buy public power from NYPA. It is not clear at this time whether these efforts will be successful but we needed to inform all of our members of this possibility. We will be sure to provide more information as it develops.

Make your voices heard!

For those of you who wish to have your voices heard regarding the New York Power Authority (NYPA)'s proposed rate increase:

The public comment period is now OPEN until February 23, 2025, you may send all written comments to secretaryoffice@nypa.gov

In addition, there will be two in-person public hearings as follows:

• Wednesday, January 29, 2025, 11am-3pm at Niagara Power Vista, 5777 Lewiston Road, Lewiston, NY
• Tuesday, February 4, 2025, 11am-3pm at the Albany Hilton, 40 Lodge St, Albany, NY

For more information, please visit NYPA's website, https://www.nypa.gov/.../press.../2024/20241224-comment...