FISHKILL, N.Y. – New Yorkers across the state are noticing increases in their energy bills.

The Public Service Commission previously approved rate hikes for major energy providers across the state, including NYSEG, RG&E and Central Hudson.

Hudson Valley native Jonna Spilbor is an attorney, resident and property owner in Dutchess County. She said the significant rate hikes are a major concern for many New Yorkers.

"Around 2021 or 2022, energy costs seemed to have gone from here to here without an explanation,” Spilbor said, adding that she presently owes $7,047.50.

Spilbor said her outstanding energy bill isn't practical for a person living alone. 

"One person who lives in a relatively small house without a large family should not be seeing bills in excess of $600 a month, sometimes over $1,000 a month," said Spilbor, who owns two commercial and two residential properties in upstate New York. 

After making several attempts to contact Central Hudson Electric & Gas customer service representatives by phone, Spilbor said she reached out to the New York Department of Public Service for support. 

Priced at just about 24 cents per kWh, New York state has one of the highest costs per kilowatt hour (kWh) of energy in the U.S., well above the national average of about 16 cents. 

In March, state Sen. Shelley B. Mayer reported that more than 17,400 Orange and Rockland county utility customers were at least two months behind on their bills in January, and another 12,400 were notified their service would be shut off. She said they owed more than $32 million combined, she said.

Central Hudson media relations specialist Joe Jenkins said while there are several factors that contribute to the price of energy bills for customers, supply and demand are key factors. 

“When supply prices increase, that ultimately creates a larger bill for our customers," Jenkins said. "There’s a number of different measures that we as a company take. We do our best to try and dampen that market volatility."

Utility companies also say costs to implement necessary upgrades to the energy grid are also raising consumer prices.

With a three-year rate hike proposal under review by the state Public Service Department, it is still unclear as to whether or not existing Central Hudson customers will see a change in their bills.