ITHACA, N.Y. (WHCU) — NYSEG’s proposed rate hikes are seeing opposition.

The utility plans to raise electric and gas delivery rates over the next three years. Assemblymember Anna Kelles is against the proposal.

“People are going to have to start deciding between whether or not they feed they children or pay their electricity,” she says. “That is unacceptable.”

Tompkins County Legislative Chair Shawna Black is also expressing frustration with NYSEG. She says the county has dealt with poor billing practices in recent weeks.

“Tompkins County has been experiencing serious issues with being able to access our NYSEG accounts over the past month to pay our invoices, even to the point of us receiving a shutoff notice for one of our buildings,” she says.

Black adds there has been a lack of customer service.