CITIZEN POWER ALLIANCE

State Senator Tom Libous and Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo are concerned over a proposed change in the Power for Jobs program that could slightly increase NYSEG bills over the next few years.

The program provides lower cost electricity to qualifying businesses to make doing business in New York State more competitive. A few of the companies who are helped are Endicott Interconnect, Unison in Norwich and National Pipe and Plastic in Vestal. NYSEG, Rochester and Gas and National Grid residential and some farming customers currently get a hydro-power credit on their bills.

The new proposed legislation would basically reduce the hydro-power tax credit over five years. Libous and Lupardo say the Power for Jobs program is vital to the success of companies in our area, but also say a compromise needs to be reached so people NYSEG bills don't increase by $2 to $4. Tom Libous says, "If you look at the bill that is drafted, they're asking those of us in the NYSEG and Rochester gas region to pick up the majority of cost for a statewide program. They're going to take away the hydro-credit. While they do have some means in restoring money back to the ratepayers. I still think in our region we would be the upstate region that would support the brunt of the statewide program."

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