Earlier this year, in a letter to National Grid's President of New York Operations Kenneth Daly, Assemblyman Santabarbara called the company's proposal to raise rates on its upstate New York customers "unacceptable" and urged its immediate withdrawal. In similar letters he’s urging the New York State Public Service Commission to reject the proposal. In his most recent letter, Santabarbara wrote, “It has become clear from the Commission’s public statement hearings recently held in upstate New York that National Grid’s current proposal, although modified from its original application submitted earlier this year, has not only received overwhelming opposition, but has also prompted harsh criticism of the company itself.”

Following the Commission’s series of public statement hearings, Assemblyman Santabarbara launched an on-line petition to take his message straight to the families and businesses of the 111th Assembly District, which includes Montgomery County and parts of Schenectady and Albany Counties. That message: SAY NO TO NATIONAL GRID RATE HIKES, and the response has been overwhelming. Within the first 24 hours of launching the on-line petition, Santabarbara’s office was informed that the Public Service Commission’s complaint hotline was temporarily inaccessible from the hundreds of calls that came in to oppose the rate hike proposal. “The good news, the PSC hotline is up and running again,” said Assemblyman Santabarbara. “After signing my on-line petition at www.nyassembly.gov/santabarbara, from the link, residents are urged to call the New York Public Service Commission at 1-800-335-2120 and tell them to reject National Grid’s proposal.”

"The proposed hike would have a significant and possibly devastating impact for far too many families," said Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara. "It means about $210 more each year that households, already struggling to get by, would have to come up with." Santabarbara added. “I’m ready to fight tooth and nail to stop National Grid’s rate hikes from hurting our families and businesses.”