If you’ve noticed your utility bills creeping up month after month, you’re not alone. Chautauqua County families are paying more to heat their homes, keep the lights on, and fuel their businesses. At a time when everything from groceries to gas is already more expensive, these rising energy costs are hitting hard-working New Yorkers where it hurts the most–our wallets.

According to NYSERDA, the average New York residential electricity rate is 49% higher than the national average. It is 49% more expensive to run your dishwasher for 1 hour or watch TV for 20 hours in New York state than in many other states in the country. The average electric bill in Chautauqua County totals over $2,100 per year.

Why has electricity gotten more expensive? It is intentional. New York is one of the most energy efficient states in the nation. There has been no shortage of resources or any sudden unexpected increases to producing power. Rather, New York has banned natural gas production, closed nuclear plants, and is purposefully taxing its citizens in the form of “credits” on your energy bills.

Again, why? To subsidize renewable energy projects, like wind and solar, and to fund infrastructure projects to make it possible to obtain net-zero emissions by 2050.

Net-Zero? That’s right. New York is increasing your electric costs to pay for projects that will hopefully make it possible to have net- zero fossil fuel emissions by 2050. I am highlighting the word “possible” because there has not been any feasibility study conducted to show how much it will cost the state to obtain net-zero by 2050.

It doesn’t stop there, though. This year New York will implement “cap and invest” to force large scale natural gas and gasoline distributors, transporters, and consumers to purchase each ton of emissions they produce; the state will take that money and use it for further infrastructure projects; the cost will be passed on to you in the form of price increases to fuel your car and heat/cool your home. New York will also implement the “superfund act” by imposing billions of dollars in retroactive fines upon those same businesses, though they did not do anything illegal and the state benefited from their business; this cost will also get passed on to to you as further a price increases and, potentially, a loss of service if the business decides to leave New York. This is also saying nothing of the electric vehicle mandate (i.e. electric buses) and those associated costs.

Why is New York artificially increasing electric and gas prices? There are two reasons and they are both about control; 1. To take away consumer choice and force its citizens to convert everything to electric; 2. To make you pay for it.

Here in Chautauqua County many people live on fixed incomes, or work in manufacturing and agriculture–industries that rely on affordable energy–these price hikes aren’t just an inconvenience. They’re devastating. Families are forced to make tough choices: turn the heat down to save money or risk sky-high bills. Business owners worry about keeping their doors open to produce goods and supply high quality jobs to our community.

New York, a state government, needs to get back to governing. Our Governor and our Legislators must serve the people to realize public well-being and private prosperity. After all that is the purpose of representative government. Only in oppressive regimes are citizens manipulated to control consumer choice.

Protecting our environment and the future of our planet is important, but New York is not going to reverse global warming by itself. We need a better plan that utilizes our natural resources, stimulates economic growth, and encourages energy innovation. Your government should work for you and I will continue to fight for you.

If rising energy costs are hurting your family, your business, or both, I want to hear from you. Please reach out to my office and share your story. It is time we stand up and demand an energy policy that puts people first.

Assemblyman Andrew Molitor represents the 150th Assembly District, encompassing all of Chautauqua County. For more information on Assemblyman Molitor, please reach out at molitora@nyassembly.gov