State increases Watkins Glen electric rates

WATKINS GLEN--In a move that village officials hope is a short-term change, village electric bills will go up because of an increase by the state reflected in the March bill. According to the village, this increase is due to an unforeseen climb in the pricing of incremental energy in the month of January, and the purchased power adjustment calculation or PPAC. Energy prices in all sectors have been continually going upward recently, and according to Mayor Luke Leszyk, some residents could see a $70-$80 increase in their March bill.
"We are dictated to by the New York Power Authority," said Leszyk. "I have heard that people think we are just raising rates. We can't do that, this is not the village's doing, we do not set the rates. This is coming from the state and there is nothing that we can do about it."
According to village officials, this is not the first time this has happened as a similar spike in price was experienced in 2014.
"Hopefully, it is only one month and then it drops back," Leszyk said. "It's not unprecedented because it happened back in 2014."
While unavoidable, Leszyk said he understands the increasing financial demands with costs going up.
"It's unfortunate with inflation and prices going up all over the place," Leszyk added. "I guess this is another example of energy prices going up. But it is temporary, it is not a permanent change in the rate. Hopefully it is just a one or two-month increase in the rate and then just levels out."
Leszyk mentioned this problem is not unique to Watkins Glen, and that villages across the state who get their energy from NYPA will face similar increases.
"I would imagine Penn Yan for instance will be facing a similar issue," stated Leszyk.
Leszyk said the village was given a warning ahead of time by NYPA, a courtesy he said he was appreciative of.
"We don't always get one (from other state agencies)," Lesyzk added.