‘I live in fear’: Essential workers rallying against Con Edison rate hike proposals

In the face of rising living costs and stagnant wages, essential workers across New York City united Thursday to demand a rate freeze from Con Edison.

Union members, contracted cleaners, city officials, and supporters will voice their concerns over Con Edison’s proposed double-digit increases in gas and electricity rates.

In New York City, where the cost of living continues to climb, the impact of utility rate hikes is felt most acutely by working-class individuals. Tatiana Lambert, an office cleaner at 63 Madison Ave. and a longtime member of the 32BJ SEIU labor union, said essential workers like herself are already struggling to make ends meet.

Con Edison is proposing an increase that would raise the average electric bill by 11.4% and the average gas bill by 13.3% as early as Jan. 1, 2026.File photo.

“I’ve been working as an office cleaner for decades. I work a union job with good pay and benefits. But every year, the bills get bigger and bigger. This rate hike is a huge burden on me and on all essential workers. Stop raising rates,” she said in a statement.

According to Denis Johnston, executive vice president of 32BJ SEIU, cost of living for essential workers has risen so high, its now becoming a crisis.

“When we sit down to bargain for new contracts covering commercial cleaners, residential building service workers, security officers, school cleaners, and airport workers, we fight for every dollar. Rate hikes like what Con Ed is proposing place strain on our membership, too many of whom are already struggling to keep the lights on while balancing the soaring cost of basic needs like rent and food,” Johnston said.

Documents presented by the Department of Public Service indicated that Con Edison’s proposed rate increases would raise average customer electric bills from $103.24 per month in 2025 to $117.37 per month in 2026, while gas bills would rise from $242.99 to $289.41 per month.

A spokesperson for Con Edison previously said the company stands by its responsibility to efficiently deliver power to New Yorkers and is ready to work with stakeholders to balance its priorities with New Yorkers’ affordability needs.

“Affordability in our state and country touches every aspect of New Yorkers’ daily life—from energy to housing to groceries. Con Edison is acutely aware of this, which is why we work with customers to make utility bills more affordable,” the spokesperson said. “We also have a responsibility to continue to safely and efficiently deliver the nation’s most reliable power while complying with state laws and regulations. That means fortifying the grid in the face of increasingly severe extreme weather, bringing renewable energy sources online to help meet the state’s clean power goals, and supporting the workforce we need to conduct ongoing maintenance and swiftly respond to customer service calls.”

Given these projections, workers are left navigating an increasingly precarious financial landscape. Sergio Centeno, an employee with Nelson Services Systems, shared his struggles.

“Five days a week I work for Nelson Services Systems to clean Con Edison’s headquarters in Manhattan. My goal has been to build a life that would allow me to support my family,” he said. “But everything is expensive. My Con Edison electricity bills are sometimes close to $200. They make billions of dollars off customers but essential workers – like me – who clean and maintain their offices have to work two jobs just to support their families.”

The demand for a rate freeze comes as salaries remain stagnant, putting immense pressure on individuals and families across the city.

“Every week, I go to my job as a cleaner at 4 Irving Plaza. It’s a hard job, but I do it with a lot of care. I receive minimum wage. And every year, the price of everything – rent, food – is growing. I already can’t buy eggs. And if the price of electricity and gas goes up too, my family and I are going to have a lot of trouble with our bills,” Maria Cordero, a Bronx resident who has now benefits and works minimum wage said. “Me and my family already pay $150 per month for electricity from Con Edison. We can’t afford another Con Edison rate increase. I don’t think it’s too much to ask that as a dedicated worker, I can receive a living wage and I can pay my bills.”

Governor Kathy Hochul previously pushed back on the rate increase, calling the act “intolerable.”

“When people are trying to put money back in their pockets, and there are other forces taking money out, we’ve got a problem,” the governor said on Feb. 11. “I don’t need to tell any of you that New Yorkers are facing a crisis of affordability. From the gas pump to grocery bills to monthly rent, and yes, to utility bills — the costs of daily life just keep rising,”

In a letter to Public Service Commission Chair and Department of Public Service CEO Rory Christian, Governor Hochul calls for the rejection of Con Edison’s proposed rate hike.Photo by Susan Watts/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul

The collective aim is to pressure Con Edison into reconsidering their proposed rate increases, which many contend will only exacerbate the struggles of middle-class workers who already bear the burden of rising living costs.

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