ALBANY, NY - Members of the Senate Republican Conference today sent a letter to Governor Kathy Hochul urging the inclusion of two pieces of legislation in the enacted budget that would provide real utility relief at a time when New Yorkers desperately need it. 

The first piece of legislation, S.8461A, introduced by Senator Tom O’Mara would provide nearly $3 billion in bill credits to ratepayers using unspent funds collected from ratepayers by NYSERDA and utilities with PSC approval for green energy projects. The Fiscal Year 2025 Budget and Financial Plan for NYSERDA detailed that NYSERDA had a total net position of $2,045,624,000 at the end of 2025. There was also $770 million being held in escrow by utilities for requisition by NYSERDA at the end of 2025 per the Department of Public Service.

The second, S.8463, introduced by Senator Rob Rolison would establish a one-year utility bill tax and surcharge holiday and a two-year green energy gas tax holiday, which would provide real and meaningful relief to ratepayers that are paying residential electric rates 50% higher than the national average.

“For years, the Senate GOP has consistently advocated for the repeal of the CLCPA because we see it for what it is - an unnecessary and extremely expensive burden on ratepayers. Given the chance to take action and provide real relief, Albany Democrats instead doubled down on their out-of-touch climate policies, favoring radical environmentalists instead of standing up for struggling New Yorkers. These initiatives to provide relief to ratepayers must be a priority in the final budget,” said Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt. 

“It's irresponsible for New York State to go on asking ratepayers to bear the burden of what’s become a questionable climate agenda. Ratepayers need relief now. It should be a priority in this budget to utilize at least $3 billion of unspent funds sitting in NYSERDA's bank account or in a utility's coffers and return it to the ratepayers to help offset the significant increases in the cost of electricity in this state, over a 50% increase since the Democrats in Albany enacted the CLCPA. The bottom line on any existing surplus must be to provide relief to ratepayers.” said Senator Tom O’Mara, Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee, SD 58th. 

“New Yorkers are looking for relief they can actually feel in their monthly bills. That’s why it’s critical we take immediate action to ease the burden on families by advancing real solutions like a utility tax holiday and returning excess funds back to ratepayers. These proposals are practical, targeted, and ready to go—and they belong in this year’s budget. Every day we delay is another day New Yorkers are forced to shoulder unnecessarily high energy costs,” said Senator Rob Rolison, SD 39th. 

The call for the inclusion of these pieces of legislation in the final enacted budget comes on the heels of a recent report from NYSERDA warning of increases in utility costs in order to keep up with the green energy mandates laid out in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA).  

“The amount of unspent funds collected by NYSERDA has grown significantly since Comptroller DiNapoli first pointed to this overcollection in his July 2024 report New York State’s Clean Energy Fund. These funds should not continue to be held to protect against the volatility of collections particularly as the collections are continuous and replenish needed funds. These funds have no impact on the proposed state budget,” the letter reads. 

“The state budget is our best opportunity to provide the relief New Yorkers desperately need from out-of-control utility bills. The governor can't let this opportunity slip away. These are simple, clean solutions that families would feel immediately,” said Senator Jake Ashby, SD 43rd. 

New Yorkers have been pushed to the breaking point by soaring utility bills, and they cannot afford to keep footing the bill for Albany Democrats’ failed energy agenda. If Governor Hochul is serious about providing relief, then she should start by returning unspent funds already collected from ratepayers and suspending the taxes and surcharges that continue to drive costs even higher. Families and businesses need real relief now: not more excuses, not more mandates, and not more empty promises that affordability is just around the corner,” said Senator George Borrello, SD 57th. 

“Once again, Albany talks about affordability, but falls short when it comes to delivering real relief. These bills would put money back in New Yorkers’ pockets by returning billions in unused funds and temporarily suspending burdensome taxes and surcharges. At a time when residents face some of the highest energy costs in the nation, there is no justification for letting these dollars sit idle. They belong to our residents, not in state accounts,” said Senator Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, SD 9th. 

“New Yorkers cannot withstand another budget cycle that ignores the real issues facing them and their families. By including these two key pieces of legislation in the final budget, we can take the first step toward turning the page on poor climate policy and providing real, meaningful utility bill relief now to our constituents at a time where so many desperately need it,” said Senator Steve Chan, SD 17th. 

“New York families and businesses need relief from rising utility bills. It is not fair to expect ratepayers to bear these additional costs completely on their own. By including this legislation in the final version of the state budget, we can provide immediate relief and truly help make New York more affordable,” said Senator Patrick M. Gallivan, SD 60th. 

“New Yorkers continue to struggle with high utility bills. They desperately need real and meaningful relief. I will continue to offer ideas and support proposals such as these two bills that will relieve some of the economic pressure felt by so many residents, families, business owners, farmers and communities across the state,” said Senator Joe Griffo, SD 53rd. 

“People are being pushed to the limit by rising utility costs, and many have told me they simply can’t keep up. For parents already stretching a paycheck, seniors on fixed incomes, farmers, and small business owners, the pressure is growing. Our bills take meaningful steps to lower utility costs by reducing taxes and providing NYSERDA rebates to ratepayers. I urge the Governor to include these measures in the final budget and deliver the relief families, seniors and businesses need now,” said Senator Pam Helming, SD 54th. 

“New Yorkers are struggling to make ends meet. Yet once again we face tax and spending increases. To add insult to injury our spiking utility bills are forcing a choice  between keeping the lights on or paying for essentials like food and medication. New Yorkers need help - by including a tax and surcharge holiday in the budget we can provide that help right now. Let’s get this done,” said Senator Jack M. Martins, SD 7th. 

“Hardworking New Yorkers are being crushed by utility bills that are 50% higher than the national average, all while the state is sitting on billions of dollars that could provide immediate relief.  As the Ranking Republican on the Senate Energy Committee, I find that both unacceptable and unnecessary.  This is why millions of New York residents are choosing other states and leaving.  Instead of begging residents to come back, Governor Hochul must put New Yorkers above rigid unfunded mandates and ideological bans and give residents who have left and those who are thinking of fleeing New York a reason to live here.  That is the least Albany Democrats can do for our families and businesses since their ideological and costly fuel choice bans are the reason utility bills have skyrocketed.  We need a commonsense plan that protects our ratepayers while avoiding unrealistic bans,” said Senator Mario Mattera, Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee, SD 2nd.   

“Upstate families and small businesses are already stretched thin, and high utility bills are making it harder to get by each month. S8463 takes a straightforward, commonsense approach by reducing the taxes and surcharges that drive those costs even higher. That’s real, immediate relief for the people we represent. I urge Governor Kathy Hochul to include this in the budget and take a meaningful step toward making New York more affordable again,” said Senator Peter Oberacker, SD 51st. 

“The state shouldn’t be asking hardworking New Yorkers for more money while sitting on billions in unspent funds—it’s like pouring water into a cup that’s already overflowing. Albany Democrats keep raiding ratepayers’ wallets instead of supporting commonsense Senate Republican solutions like returning unspent NYSERDA funds and delivering a utility tax and surcharge holiday. New Yorkers are just trying to get by, and Albany Democrats’ refusal to act is reckless and out of touch. It’s time to put real relief directly into the hands of families and make the clean energy transition responsibly and affordably,” said Senator Steve Rhoads, SD 5th. 

“The governor has repeatedly stressed affordability as her top priority; the measures my Senate Republican colleagues and I propose are an opportunity to show that that statement isn’t merely an empty gesture. From property taxes to energy prices, our families and small businesses are in urgent need of relief. I urge her and Democrat leaders to adopt these common sense affordability solutions in the state budget,” said Senator Dan Stec, SD 45th. 

“Any final state budget must include utility relief for overburdened New Yorkers who are facing skyrocketing energy costs,” said Senator Jim Tedisco, SD 44th. 

“New Yorkers are hurting as utility rates soar; now over 50% higher than the national average. The state's spent $88.7 billion on green energy programs since 2021, but we're making less electricity than in 2019 and hardworking families are footing the bill. The state has overcharged utility bills by nearly $3 billion into a slush fund for NYSERDA which remains unspent. It's time to send the money back to the people, implement a utility tax holiday, and a gas tax holiday to alleviate the high energy bills so many are struggling with. You cannot continue to tax, fee, and surcharge your way into affordable energy,” said Senator Mark Walczyk, Member of the Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee, SD 49th. 

“High utility bills are crushing residents across our districts. Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures, and I am urging the Governor to consider including my colleagues’ legislative proposals in the final enacted budget to deliver real relief for New Yorkers,” said Senator Bill Weber, SD 38th. 

“Rate payers need relief now and New York needs to put the CLCPA back on the drawing board. Affordable energy requires a real plan,” said Senator Alexis Weik, SD 8th. 

“Since you became Governor in 2021, $88.7 billion has been invested in clean energy programs with the funding mainly paid by ratepayers on their utility bills. The arrears numbers indicate that ratepayer funding has reached its capacity. Immediate relief needs to be made available to ratepayers. The energy transition needs to move forward with reasonable and achievable goals that are affordable. The ratepayer cannot bear the whole burden,” the letter concludes.

A full copy of the letter is attached.