ITHACA, NY (607NewsNow) – Area lawmakers are hearing about utility bills from struggling constituents.

Several Tompkins County legislators are concerned about NYSEG’s billing practices amid rising prices, billing problems, delivery costs, and smart meters. They also point to what seems like a lack of transparency or suitable answers when customers call the company.

“My folks were already trying to make ends meet, and now they’re seeing these bills and aren’t getting a good explanation,” said Legislator Lee Shurtleff, who represents Groton.

Some residents report drastic cost increases with no real increase in how they use electricity or natural gas.

“NYSEG customers in Tompkins are struggling to pay these large increases and to find answers to why they’ve gone up so much,” said Legislator Mike Sigler, who represents the Town of Lansing. “My constituents are having trouble understanding how their bills have skyrocketed when their usage has not changed.”

Legislator Randy Brown, who represents parts of Newfield and Enfield, spoke at the March 18, 2025, meeting of the full Legislature, going as far as calling for an investigation of the energy company.

“I know they were hacked about three years ago, and they cannot reconcile bills to the county beyond three years ago,” said Brown. “They just couldn’t provide us any of that data, which is very confusing. If they can’t provide it, then how do they know what they’ve done? I think there should be a forensic audit of NYSEG and their billing practices.”

The Public Service Commission approved NYSEG’s rate hikes in the Fall of 2023 after reducing the utility company’s original request by nearly $231 million.

NYSEG CEO Trish Nilsen spoke about those increases on Ithaca’s Morning News in October 2023. The rate hikes were heavily opposed by state lawmakers at the time, with Assemblymember Anna Kelles calling them “profoundly irresponsible.”

The three legislators are joining a growing regional call for an independent investigation into NYSEG. Among them are Legislator Randy Strange of Chemung County, where NYSEG recently held an event to explain cost increases to the public, and Broome County Legislator Erin Micha.

“It is clear that people don’t trust NYSEG, and they have no faith in the NYS Public Service Commission,” said Strange in a Facebook post. “What needs to happen is for the State Legislature to conduct a bipartisan, comprehensive, independent investigation into the many issues that have arisen over the past several months with NYSEG.”

Strange’s counterparts in Tompkins County echoed those sentiments.

“People are being hit hard by the large increase in cost, and I believe we should verify NYSEG’s cost,” said Brown.

“To restore trust, we need as transparent as a relationship with NYSEG as possible, and an independent investigation could do that,” added Shurtleff.

Tompkins County Legislator Mike Sigler has asked for a similar town hall style event for residents.