New York lawmakers face pressure to rebate $2B in surplus energy funds to ratepayers amid rising costs.

New York State, where electricity rates are among the highest in the nation, holds about $2 billion in surplus funds from customer surcharges collected by NYSERDA. Lawmakers are urged to rebate the money directly to ratepayers, a move already happening in Massachusetts and New Jersey, to provide immediate relief amid rising energy costs linked to policy decisions and infrastructure limits. Advocates call the step nonpartisan and urgent, especially as climate legislation may further increase expenses for families and businesses.