Assemblyman Stephen Hawley (R,C-Batavia) joined fellow members of the New York State Assembly in urging Gov. Kathy Hochul to immediately declare an energy state of emergency amid rapidly rising electricity costs impacting households, farms and employers across New York.

In a joint letter to the governor, lawmakers warned that residents are facing historic spikes in utility bills driven by supply shortages and a growing strain on the electric grid. According to market data, wholesale energy prices in multiple regions recently surged toward $1,000 per megawatt-hour, far above normal levels, and those costs are being passed directly to ratepayers.

“Families in Western New York shouldn’t have to choose between keeping the lights on and putting food on the table,” Hawley said. “This is no longer theoretical. People are opening their bills and seeing the consequences of years of bad energy policy. The state must act immediately to restore reliability and affordability before more residents and businesses are driven out of New York.”

Grid operator analysis shows the price volatility is being caused by multiple systemic issues, including declining in-state generation, rising fuel costs and increasing electricity demand without sufficient replacement base-load capacity.

Hawley and his colleagues say an emergency declaration would allow the state to quickly implement relief measures, including:

• Safeguards to protect consumers from extreme price spikes
• Suspending taxes, fees and surcharges on energy bills
• Fast-tracking permitting and construction of reliable power generation
• Rebating unused clean energy funds back to ratepayers

Lawmakers also noted New York has previously responded to energy shortages by rapidly building generation capacity and urged similar decisive action today.

“This is not a partisan issue, it’s an affordability crisis,” Hawley added. “We need immediate relief for ratepayers and a serious commitment to reliable power so New York remains a place where families can live and businesses can operate.”

Hawley stands ready to work with the governor and state agencies to stabilize the grid and lower costs for New Yorkers.