June 16, 2026 — Why your energy bill is so high ... and how it might get even worse

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Energy costs are going up. From gas prices to electric bills, it’s hard not to notice. But very soon, the electric and gas bill for the average Ithaca home could see an even larger increase. And yes, there’s lots of international issues that impact costs. But one of the biggest reasons is closer to home than you think.

There’s a complex and little-known process going on right now that could have a big impact on how much we pay for electricity. New York State Electric and Gas (NYSEG) is asking state regulators for a rate hike that could raise the average electric and gas bill by almost $800 a year.

This week on Backstory: the NYSEG rate case.

You can submit a public comment as part of the rate case using New York State's Public Service Departments portal here. Read other filings in the case here.

Access a time-stamped transcript by clicking the button with three lines on the embedded player. For a full page transcript, click here. The transcript is auto-generated and may contain errors.

Original air date: June 16, 2026

Produced and hosted by Megan Zerez.

Reported by Jimmy Jordan

Cover photo by Casey Martin