NEW YORK - If you're a Consolidated Edison customer, be prepared for pricier gas and electricity bills come the start of the new year.

The company has proposed rate hikes starting January 1, with additional increases in 2021 and 2022.

On average, electric rates will go up by 13 and a half percent in that time.

 

Electric bills will increase 4.2 percent this coming year, then 4.7 percent the following year and another four percent in 2022.

Gas rate hikes will be even larger with a 7.5 percent bump in 2020, then 8.8 and 7.2 percent in the two years after.

That's a 25 percent increase in total.

 

Groups like AARP are voicing strong opposition for these changes and are urging the governor and public service commission to reject them.

The question is how the increases will affect low and middle-income customers.

"I think it's very hard for middle class people to live in New York City. You can't find apartments, you can't find space, food is more expensive," said one New Yorker.

It's awful. We need pay raises in order to pay for these high prices of electricity," said another New Yorker.

Ten percent of Con Ed customers are already roughly 60 days behind on paying their bills.

The company will hold a public hearing about the changes at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the SUNY Global Center.