16-05-2025
Metro Justice calls for action from Rochester City Council to replace RG&E
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Metro Justice is back — calling on Rochester City Council to consider the possibility of replacing RG&E with a government owned utility.
A full house signed up to speak to councilmembers about a range of issues, including concerns about high utility bills and a lack of customer service.
At one time, city leaders agreed to spend $500,000 to conduct a feasibility study on replacing RG&E, but it was contingent on the county's support and county leaders did not agree to fund it.
Still, members of the social and economic justice organization 'Metro Justice' want the city to move forward with the study.
RG&E maintains its a waste of time and money.
'We've seen Rochesterians continue to struggle with out of control bills and shut offs,' Metro Justice Campaign and Policy Coordinator. 'The shut offs tripled to over 13,000 last year. Rochester has the third highest energy burden in the country. There's a common sense solution: Do a study to investigate replacing RG&E.'
'This notion that we're not doing anything is a complete outright lie,' RG&E Communications Manager Michael Baggerman said. 'We're constantly investing in our infrastructure, whether its the physical grid or its the customer service infrastructure. This idea that we're just raising rates all willy nilly… it's not based in reality.'
Baggerman goes onto say a public owned utility would cost taxpayers more money and reduce service.
Metro Justice maintains its stance that a study is harmless, and Phase 1 is essentially already paid for by the city. Thursday, they delivered a letter urging city leaders to commission the study.
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