SENATOR WALCZYK MOVES TO LOWER ENERGY BILLS AND ENSURE TRANSPARENCY FOR NEW YORKERS
June 30, 2025
In a bold effort to combat soaring electricity costs and provide relief to families and businesses across New York, Senator Mark Walczyk has introduced two vital bills designed to tackle the energy affordability crisis. Senator Walczyk's initiatives come at a crucial juncture where real change is urgently needed.
"The time for empty promises and political posturing is over. New Yorkers deserve real solutions to make electricity more affordable," stated Senator Walczyk. His proposed legislation focuses on eliminating unnecessary government fees and promoting transparency, ensuring that ratepayers are fully informed about the costs they bear.
S7075 eliminates the System Benefits Charge (SBC) on utility bills. NYSERDA uses this unnecessary fee to fund renewable energy projects and fails to make the state's energy supply more affordable. Eliminating this charge will save New York ratepayers over $150 million per year. Additionally, S8847 mandates that any legislation impacting utility rates must have a fiscal note detailing the estimated annual cost to ratepayers. This requirement will enhance accountability, empowering both legislators and citizens to fully understand the financial ramifications of proposed changes.
Emphasizing the urgency of these reforms, Senator Walczyk critiques Governor Hochul’s ineffective affordability agenda, noting that while Senator Walczyk continues to provide real solutions to the energy affordability crisis, Governor Hochul continues to make the problem worse. Under her watch, New York households face an electricity rate of 24.37¢ per kWh, a number that ranks New York 44th in the country.
In a similar vein, the Senator calls on Governor Hochul to veto S8417. This bill, which would repeal the 100-foot rule, would make natural gas hookups more expensive and spike all natural gas users' bills. Furthermore, Senator Walczyk is calling for a comprehensive halt on the decommissioning of bridge fuel power plants until adequate nuclear energy resources are developed to replace the lost capacity. With Albany pushing for greater reliance on electricity without securing the necessary infrastructure investments, the looming threat of an energy crisis becomes ever more pressing.
"The time for empty promises and political posturing is over. New Yorkers deserve real solutions to make electricity more affordable," stated Senator Walczyk. His proposed legislation focuses on eliminating unnecessary government fees and promoting transparency, ensuring that ratepayers are fully informed about the costs they bear.
S7075 eliminates the System Benefits Charge (SBC) on utility bills. NYSERDA uses this unnecessary fee to fund renewable energy projects and fails to make the state's energy supply more affordable. Eliminating this charge will save New York ratepayers over $150 million per year. Additionally, S8847 mandates that any legislation impacting utility rates must have a fiscal note detailing the estimated annual cost to ratepayers. This requirement will enhance accountability, empowering both legislators and citizens to fully understand the financial ramifications of proposed changes.
Emphasizing the urgency of these reforms, Senator Walczyk critiques Governor Hochul’s ineffective affordability agenda, noting that while Senator Walczyk continues to provide real solutions to the energy affordability crisis, Governor Hochul continues to make the problem worse. Under her watch, New York households face an electricity rate of 24.37¢ per kWh, a number that ranks New York 44th in the country.
In a similar vein, the Senator calls on Governor Hochul to veto S8417. This bill, which would repeal the 100-foot rule, would make natural gas hookups more expensive and spike all natural gas users' bills. Furthermore, Senator Walczyk is calling for a comprehensive halt on the decommissioning of bridge fuel power plants until adequate nuclear energy resources are developed to replace the lost capacity. With Albany pushing for greater reliance on electricity without securing the necessary infrastructure investments, the looming threat of an energy crisis becomes ever more pressing.
"Albany Democrats are out of touch with the reality facing New Yorkers," asserted Walczyk. While they advocate for a green energy revolution, our energy production capabilities are dwindling. Democrats are unwilling to realize that natural gas will help transition our grid to a cleaner future, and some are hesitant to admit that nuclear power will accelerate that change. It is time to embrace practical solutions that ensure energy stability for all New Yorkers. We cannot afford to gamble with New Yorkers' livelihoods—our energy future depends on bold, responsible actions today!"