ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Next week, you’ll get the chance to let state regulators know where you stand on RG&E’s rate hike request. The utility says it needs more money in order to keep up with the increasing demand for electricity.
RG&E’s Director of Economic Development says that all of us are requiring a whole lot more power than we used to. Even with energy efficient appliances, we’ve got more plugged in than ever before.
“We’ve seen an increase in load requests of 83% between 2022 and 2025,” says Joe Sayer. “It’s a combination of all our customers, it could be a residential housing development that’s 100 homes, it could be a single home that a person is building. It’s a mixture of retail, residential, restaurant and then your industrial manufacturing as well.”
But are residential customers sharing the cost of infrastructure for industry?
“For us, it’s not your data centers, your AI infrastructure, your Microns of the world that are the concern because those go through a process, there is very much a way to pay for those where those companies are willing to pay for that infrastructure and have the funds to do so, it’s the residential developers here, it’s the 20 person company that’s looking to expand to become a 30 person company,” Sayer says.
The state is also demanding more electric school and transit buses, electric semis and eventually, fully electric homes and apartment buildings.
To get there, RG&E needs to expand its grid but it can only move so fast.
“The supply chain is a disaster for lack of a better word, it’s the most highly wanted equipment in the country, electrical infrastructure,” Sayer says. “Most transformers, most electrical infrastructure equipment is custom built to meet the specific needs or designs or layout of that substation, but when we have the ability to refurbish and put in a like-new asset that we previously have or previously removed from a different substation, we’re going to do that.”
That’s what’s happening in southwest Henrietta. As News10NBC has previously reported, business and residential development has stalled because there isn’t enough power.
RG&E has refurbished an older transformer to help expand access, “we’re tying together three different substations to ensure that we can connect new customers in Henrietta without having our current customers be at risk for longer outages or more frequent outages,” Sayer explains.
“We’ve promised a $5.1 billion dollar capital plan that attacks capacity needs in the new rate case” says Sayer but whether that plan is approved remains to be seen.
*AI assisted with the formatting of this story. Click here to see how WHEC News 10 uses AI
RG&E says 83% increase in electricity demand straining local grid, rate hike needed for upgrades WHEC.com.
Hence then, the article about rg e says 83 increase in electricity demand straining local grid rate hike needed for upgrades was published today ( ) and is available on News10NBC ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( RG&E says 83% increase in electricity demand straining local grid, rate hike needed for upgrades )
Also on site :