Brian Nearing reports in the Albany Times Union that National Grid wants its first rate hike in a decade, and it would add more than $200 a year to the average residential natural gas and electric bill. The cities of Albany, Buffalo, and Syracuse have come out against the rate hike, and on Aug. 29 three Albany County lawmakers offered a measure for the county to join a review of the National Grid's request to the state Public Service Commission. So far the PSC favors a lower rise in rates. Either way, smart meters that report all sorts of data back to the company about energy usage are on the way once the rate increase is approved. Read the full story in the Albany Times Union.