President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani engaged in discussions on March 15, 2024, focused on urging Consolidated Edison (Con Edison) to lower its utility rates. The meeting took place at the White House and was revealed by Trump during a press briefing in the Oval Office.
Both leaders recognized the rising costs of energy as a pressing concern for New Yorkers. Trump stated, “We talked about Con Edison…we have to get Con Edison to start lowering their rates.” Mamdani echoed this sentiment, affirming, “Absolutely.”
In response to the discussions, Con Edison issued a statement highlighting their role in providing reliable energy to more than 9 million people in New York City. The utility acknowledged affordability as a significant issue and expressed willingness to collaborate with the incoming mayor to find solutions. “We recognize affordability is a critical issue and work every day to balance the investments needed for resilience and reliability with customer costs,” the statement read.
Proposed Rate Increases and Public Response
The discussions occur against the backdrop of Con Edison’s plans to increase rates to offset rising operational costs. Earlier proposals included an 11.4% hike in electric rates and a 13.3% increase for natural gas. Following public pushback, these figures were revised to 11.3% for electricity and 10.5% for gas.
More recently, a new proposal suggested annual increases of 2.8% on average electric bills and 2% for gas over a three-year period for customers in New York City and Westchester County. Mamdani, a vocal critic of the proposed increases, emphasized the challenges many New Yorkers face in affording their energy bills. “As New Yorkers face an acute affordability crisis, Con Edison is again proposing a rate increase for gas,” he stated earlier this year. “Too many tenants in New York already cannot afford their energy bill, while countless homeowners and small business owners don’t know how they will afford next month’s bill.”
The state’s Public Service Commission must approve any rate increase for it to take effect. Con Edison serves over 172,000 residential and commercial customers on Staten Island alone, underscoring its significant role in the region.
Unexpected Collaboration
The meeting between Trump and Mamdani marked a noteworthy moment, diverging from the anticipated contentious dynamic between the Republican president and the Democratic socialist mayor-elect. Trump remarked, “I think he is going to surprise some conservative people, actually,” as Mamdani stood alongside him.
The leaders have historically been seen as political opposites, often engaging in rhetoric that mobilizes their respective supporters. Their recent collaborative tone may lead to varied reactions from their bases. “We’re going to be helping him, to make everybody’s dream come true, having a strong and very safe New York,” Trump added.
Mamdani appreciated the constructive nature of their discussion, stating, “What I really appreciate about the president is that the meeting that we had focused not on places of disagreement, which there are many, and also focused on the shared purpose that we have in serving New Yorkers.”
The outcome of these discussions remains to be seen as Con Edison continues to navigate the complexities of energy pricing amidst growing demand and operational challenges.
