Ted Remsnyder is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media that the New York State Department of Public Service will hold a series of public meetings on a proposed New York State Electric and Gas Corporation rate hike. NYSEG [NIGH-SEGG], which provides electric service to portions of Greene and Columbia counties, has requested the PSC to approve changes to annual electric and natural gas delivery rates. NYSEG is proposing to increase its electric delivery revenue by approximately $274 million, a 31 percent hike in base delivery revenues for the company. If approved, the rate increases would take effect on May 1, 2023. The Department of Public Service will host a series of virtual public statement hearings on the rate hikes beginning Sept. 15, with hearings scheduled at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. State residents are able to provide their comments to the PSC about rate changes. Greene County Administrator Shaun Groden said the county is encouraging NYSEG customers to express their opinions about the rate changes to the state agency. “I think when people see those numbers, they’re going to say, ‘What?’” Groden said. “Why are these things going up so much? I don’t know if there’s a correlation between the fact that we’re pushing to more green energy, which is more expensive. There’s a benefit to green energy but now we’re going to agree to pay 50 percent more because we’re going to use solar?” Additional virtual Department of Public Service hearings on the NYSEG proposal will take place on September 28 and October 18, at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. each day. Last week National Grid announced its residential natural gas customers should expect to pay an estimated $263 more on their heating bills, beginning in November and continuing through the end of March. National Grid electric customers will pay approximately 22 percent more than last winter. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.