Upstate United Responds to 2026 State of the State Address 

January 13th, 2026

The following can be attributed to Justin Wilcox, Executive Director of Upstate United

“As usual, today’s State of the State address included a long list of aspirational proposals that, without more details, could prove difficult to fully assess. That said, we agree with the Governor that utility bill transparency is long overdue. But when talking about transparency, we must include the full picture. This means breaking down the billions of dollars in state-mandated charges and NYSERDA programs that are driving bills higher, in addition to costs imposed by utilities.

“For example, the Department of Public Service has already shown that Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) surcharges increased residential electric bills by up to 10.3 percent in 2023 and pushed costs for some large industrial users above 20 percent in 2024. These figures should no longer be hidden from residents and businesses, and any customer impact analysis should be included in all future proposed legislation.”

“New Yorkers deserve to know exactly which policies are raising their bills, and that is what the Ratepayer Transparency Act would do. If the Governor truly wants to tackle utility bills and protect ratepayers, we encourage including this proposal as an essential part of her platform moving forward.”