New York City has long been an expensive place to live, but in recent years, affordability has gone from a challenge to a crisis. Rents are still too damn high and continue to soar, grocery prices feel like mortgage payments, and wages have not kept pace. Now, to make matters worse, Con Edison and National Grid are proposing rate hikes that will further squeeze working families, low-income households, and an already shrinking middle class. Energy is a necessity, not a luxury. Heat, electricity, and gas are essential to modern life, and yet, the corporations that control these utilities operate as if they are selling a premium service rather than a basic human need. These proposed increases, which could add hundreds of dollars to monthly bills, are nothing short of an economic stranglehold on Brooklynites and New Yorkers already struggling to stay afloat. The justification? A mix of corporate double-talk and backwards logic. The utilities argue that these hikes are necessary to maintain and upgrade infrastructure and to invest in renewable energy projects. But let’s be clear—these companies are not hurting for cash. Con Edison reported $1.68 billion in net income in 2023, and National Grid’s U.S. operations remain highly profitable. So why should New Yorkers foot the bill when executives continue to collect massive salaries and shareholder dividends? Transitioning to renewable energy, particularly solar power, is essential for a sustainable future. Solar energy offers numerous benefits, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions, decreasing reliance on fossil fuels, and providing long-term cost savings for consumers. Even if you are not a climate justice advocate, these hikes will affect everyone negatively. However, Con Edison cites investments in renewable energy infrastructure as one of the reasons for the proposed rate hikes, although less than a million homes are using renewable energy While developing green energy projects is crucial, the financial burden should not fall disproportionately on consumers, especially when these companies continue to post substantial profits. It’s imperative that the transition to renewable energy is managed in a way that is equitable and does not exacerbate existing economic disparities. This is not just a pocketbook issue; it is a moral issue. A city where people cannot afford basic utilities is a city on the brink of collapse. If energy costs become more burdensome, families will have to make impossible choices—cutting back on food, medicine, or even rent to keep the lights and heat on. Governor Hochul has rightly taken a stance against these rate hikes, recognizing the catastrophic impact they would have. But she alone cannot stop them. The Public Service Commission, which oversees utility rates, must reject these proposed increases outright. Furthermore, we need systemic changes to how utilities operate in New York. Public ownership of utilities, stricter regulation, and price caps must all be on the table. New Yorkers should not be forced to bear the financial burden of corporate greed. These utility hikes are another example of big business tightening its grip on working people’s necks and wallets, all while the federal government rolls back protections meant to keep society fair and just. It is time to put political views aside and focus on what’s right and fight against our regulatory agencies, and the corporations that hold our most essential services hostage. The cost-of-living crisis in Brooklyn will only deepen if we do not push back against these predatory price hikes. We must act now—before we reach a point where the simple act of keeping the lights on becomes a luxury, rather than a basic right.