By Melissa Ortiz and Mark Scott
Buffalo, NY – A request by National Fuel Gas to increase its natural gas rates was met with stiff opposition Wednesday during a public hearing in Buffalo City Hall.
The utility is seeking a $52 million increase. Of that, National Fuel says $12 million would be spent on rebates and other incentives to help customers wishing to buy more energy-efficient equipment.
But State Assemblyman Sam Hoyt urged the State Public Service Commission to reject the rate hike request. He says it would have an adverse effect on the upstate economy.
"Higher fuel gas rates will negatively impact our ability to attract new businesses to upstate New York and will certainly discourage existing ones from expanding," Hoyt said. "For the businesses that remain, these increase costs will get passed onto the consumer, further increasing the cost of goods and services."
If approved, the higher rates would take effect in late December.