President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani met at the White House on March 15, 2024, to discuss strategies for urging Consolidated Edison to lower its utility rates. During a press briefing held in the Oval Office, Trump announced the focus of their closed-door meeting, emphasizing the need for Con Edison to reconsider its current pricing structure. “We talked about Con Edison…we have to get Con Edison to start lowering their rates,” Trump stated, to which Mamdani responded, “absolutely.”
The conversation comes amid rising concerns about affordability for New Yorkers, particularly as Con Edison has sought to implement significant rate increases. According to a report from CBS News, the company previously proposed an 11.4% increase for electric service and a 13.3% hike for natural gas. Following public pushback, these figures were adjusted to 11.3% for electric and 10.5% for gas. Recently, a new three-year plan was introduced that would see average electric bills rise by 2.8% annually and gas bills increase by 2%.
In light of these proposed increases, Mamdani has been vocal about the impact on residents. Earlier this year, he criticized the rate hikes, stating, “As New Yorkers face an acute affordability crisis, Con Edison is again proposing a rate increase for gas. Too many tenants in New York already cannot afford their energy bill.” He underscored the notion that the proposed increases are an attempt to extract more profit from working-class families, arguing that the cost of gas has not changed significantly.
Con Edison, which provides electric service to more than 9 million people in New York City, issued a statement in response to the discussions. The utility company emphasized its commitment to balancing reliability and customer costs, stating, “We recognize affordability is a critical issue and work every day to balance the investments needed for resilience and reliability with customer costs.” The company expressed its willingness to collaborate with Mamdani on solutions to enhance affordability for New Yorkers.
Affordability at the Forefront
The meeting between Trump and Mamdani was notable not only for its focus on utility rates but also for the cordial atmosphere that prevailed. Historically, these two figures have served as political opposites, often rallying their respective bases against each other. Yet, in this meeting, both leaders highlighted their shared commitment to improving conditions for New Yorkers. Trump remarked, “I think he is going to surprise some conservative people, actually,” as Mamdani stood beside him.
Mamdani echoed these sentiments, 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.”
As discussions continue, the state Public Service Commission will play a crucial role in determining whether Con Edison’s proposed rate increases will be approved. The outcome of this meeting and subsequent negotiations could have significant implications for the economic landscape of New York City, particularly for those grappling with the rising cost of living.
The collaboration between Trump and Mamdani might surprise some observers, but it underscores a broader trend of leaders from differing political backgrounds working together on pressing issues that affect their constituents. Whether this partnership will yield tangible results in lowering utility rates remains to be seen, but the dialogue has certainly begun.
