Legislation that calls for a public utility study was recently re-introduced in the Monroe County, N.Y., Legislature.
“The introduction of legislation is a critical victory for the effort to bring RG&E in Monroe County under public ownership, so that all county residents benefit from the savings, transparency, and community control that having a public utility entails,” said Mohini Sharma, Organizing Director for Metro Justice, a group that supports replacing investor-owned Rochester Gas & Electric with a public power utility.
Professor Ramona Dagostino, a specialist in local government financing and banking, said a study is essential to clarify the facts around transitioning to a public utility.
“While it is always possible to make guesses or have opinions, having an actual study allows decision making to be rooted in hard evidence and data, thereby increasing transparency and accountability,” Dagostino said, noting that public utilities benefit from a lower cost of borrowing, and that creating a public utility does not mandate tax increases.
Metro Justice is one of several local organizations that has been pushing to replace RG&E with a locally owned and community controlled public utility in Monroe County.
Advocates for a public utility study expect that legislation will begin moving through the County Legislature in April. A vote is expected by May.
In November 2023, the Monroe County Legislature voted to reject a proposal to fund a public power study.
APPA offers a variety of resources on its website related to municipalization.
