New Yorkers owe more than a billion dollars for a communal apartment: this threatens the state's energy system

More than a million families in New York have been in debt for electricity, water, phone and internet since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, which has led to a utility crisis in the state, reports Silive. Advocacy groups say that without a resolution on the state budget for 2022-2023, the crisis will worsen.

American Association of Retirees (AARP) and Public Services Act Project (PULP) call on Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins ​​and Assembly Speaker Carl Histie to include a resolution on the multi-billion dollar debt in the budget New Yorkers unpaid bills for electricity, water, telephone and high-speed internet.

At least $1,7 billion is owed unpaid bills for electricity and utilities. In addition, hundreds of millions of dollars of debt for telephone, water and Internet were formed.

Between February 2020 and December 2021, energy consumer debt increased by more than $960 million, according to a letter to Histie and Stuart-Cousins.

On the subject: Owners of low-cost housing in New York cannot pay property taxes: they have skyrocketed due to a strange calculation system

In October 2021, the US government said household heating bills were likely to rise by 54% compared to last winter. This will make the situation more difficult for those who have already delayed their accounts.

The government released a separate report showing that US consumer prices were 2020% higher in September 5,4 than in September 2021. This corresponds to the highest inflation rate since 2008. A resurgent economy and strained supply chains are pushing up the prices of everything from cars to products.

Advocacy groups are asking for $1,25 billion from the federal American bailout plan to be allocated to the state budget for 2022-2023.

They are also asking for $200 million in state sales taxes on a dollar-for-dollar basis. It will be available to forgive non-energy utilities for low or fixed income households.

“Without action by Albany, the risk of mass utility outages is increasing by the day,” New York State AARP director Beth Finkel said.

“Recent reports from across the state that electricity bills are doubling and tripling will only plunge more New Yorkers into debt they may never recover from. The time has come for New York State leaders to confront this growing crisis,” Finkel said.

“Even before the skyrocketing bills in New York, one in five New Yorkers was heavily in public debt and had little chance of ever paying off their financial well-being,” said PULP chief executive Richard Berkeley. The simple three-part plan that PULP, AARP and our partners have developed will prevent multi-generational poverty caused by COVID-19, reduce the additional harm caused by soaring bills, and pave the way for the economic recovery of our communities.”