CITIZEN POWER ALLIANCE

Close to three dozen people showed up at Rochester City Hall today to voice their opinions on the proposed rate increases requested by Rochester Gas and Electric Corp.

The hearings were held by the state Public Service Commission. And much of the crowd was opposed to the proposals.

“Utility costs are already unaffordable for more and more households in Monroe County,” Trudy Harper of the Monroe County Workers Benefit Council said to applause from part of the audience. “Any increase is too much.”

Peggy Johnson, also a member of the political activist group, urged state regulators to deny the increase, saying money RG&E says it needs to improve its infrastructure likely would be used to make improvements that also would cost RG&E workers their jobs.

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