By Michelle Han
The forum at Queensborough Community College was organized by state Sen. Daniel Hevesi (D-Forest Hills) and state Assemblyman Mark Weprin (D-Bayside), who said many constituents have called his office complaining of high utility rates.
Representatives of Con Edison, Con Edison Solutions, Keyspan, and the Public Service Commission, the state agency that is overseeing the deregulation process, were on hand to answer questions. Keyspan is the utility formed by the merger of Brooklyn Union Gas and Long Island Lighting Company.
The industry representatives attempted to explain a complex procedure that has changed the way consumers receive energy and are billed for the service. Almost all agreed that the deregulation of the industry, which has attempted to change what was essentially a monopoly into a competitive market for energy companies, has not worked the way it should have and they urged residents to be patient while the system
