New York Republican Elise Stefanik is taking aim at Gov. Kathy Hochul’s energy policies, accusing the Democrat of driving up costs for families as the state faces another round of steep utility rate hikes.
According to Fox News, the North Country congresswoman, who recently launched her gubernatorial campaign, criticized Hochul’s continued ban on fossil fuel exploration and her embrace of what Stefanik called “billion-dollar Green New Deal policies.”
“Kathy Hochul’s billion-dollar Green New Deal policies that ban gas stoves and ban natural gas fracking are already driving up New York’s energy costs, which are the most expensive in the country,” Stefanik said. “At a time when New Yorkers are living in one of the most unaffordable states in the nation, Kathy Hochul’s New York might get even more expensive.”
Her comments came after the New York State Public Service Commission revealed that several utilities are seeking delivery charge increases between 34% and 48%, which could translate to average annual cost hikes of $800 to $1,000 for households beginning in 2026.
Stefanik pointed to Hochul’s continuation of the state’s ban on natural gas fracking, originally implemented under former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, as a key factor limiting energy supply and economic opportunity—especially in upstate regions sitting atop the Marcellus Shale formation.
State Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt, R-Niagara Falls, backed Stefanik’s criticism, saying, “We must repeal the unrealistic and unaffordable mandates of the Democrats’ ‘Green New Scam.’ Republicans support a diverse energy portfolio that ensures affordable options for all New Yorkers.”
Hochul’s campaign pushed back sharply, defending the governor’s record on affordability.
“She has been laser-focused on affordability — from cutting taxes for millions of middle-class New Yorkers to lowering household energy costs,” said campaign spokesperson Sarafina Chitika. “[Hochul is] standing up to Trump’s expensive tariffs while sellout Stefanik voted to jack up New Yorkers’ energy bills.”
The energy debate comes as frustration mounts over rising costs. Assemblymember Anna Kelles, D-Ithaca, said utilities have hiked delivery fees more than 60% in recent years, citing constituents who have received bills as high as $2,600 in a single month.
Meanwhile, Stefanik’s path to the Republican nomination could face competition. Nassau County Executive Brad Blakeman told the New York Post he is considering a run, arguing the road to defeating Hochul “starts on Long Island.”
With energy prices soaring and political tensions rising, Stefanik has made clear she intends to tie Hochul’s record to what she calls the “radical green policies” that are, in her words, “making New York unaffordable for working families.”
