Upstate United Responds to Push for Government Takeover of Utility 

December 11th, 2025

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

“Yesterday’s New York Times piece about spurring eminent domain to buy out Central Hudson and replace it with a government-run utility sheds light on the false narrative that this is the solution to achieving lower utility bills. On the contrary, a government takeover would add billions of dollars in costs to ratepayers, while creating more uncertainty for grid reliability and the skilled workforce that keeps our heat and lights on.

“The reality is that the lawmakers pushing for public ownership are the very ones perpetuating state policies and programs that have led to many of the increases New Yorkers statewide are seeing in monthly energy charges. Rather than punting the problem, state and local leaders should take a hard look at the root cause of rate increases and move forward with the steps necessary to provide the relief that ratepayers desperately need.”