Taxing Long Island: Natural gas rate freeze?
National Grid is asking the state to approve a delivery rate freeze, but some are asking, "why not lower the rate?"
After National Grid told News 12 it is looking to freeze its gas delivery rates, anchor/reporter Thema Ponton asked natural gas customers what that would mean for their bottom line.
Jim, a retired Long Islander who spoke with News 12 on Main Street in Farmingdale said he would welcome a rate freeze.
"That's better than raising it I guess, but it's still way too much, it's gone up so much in the last year or two, I have a pretty big house and my bill's $290 a month," he says.
While National Grid awaits state approval for its delivery-rate-freeze, one viewer asked, why it isn't lowering rates like a natural gas company in New Jersey.
News 12 reached out to National Grid for an answer.
The company wouldn't comment on why it isn't asking for lower rates, but did issue the following statement:
"With so many households and businesses across New York City and Long Island facing the pressures of inflation and a rising cost of living, we identified an opportunity to provide meaningful financial relief for our customers by freezing our gas delivery rates until 2028," said Sally Librera, president of National Grid New York. "Coming off a harsh winter that brought record demand for gas, this proposal directly addresses affordability while ensuring our dedicated employees continue to deliver the safe, reliable energy that heats homes and powers businesses—especially during periods of extreme weather."
As News 12 reported, the freeze request comes two years after a state approved rate hike that increased customers bills by about $60.
"If National Grid keeps their prices same it's great, they're not trying to raise it, they're fighting to keep our prices stable," said a man named Mike from Melville.
If the rate freeze is approved by New York's Public Service Commission, National Grid says current gas delivery rates would remain in place from April 1, 2027 to March 31, 2028.
