Friday, July 31, 2026
Cattaraugus & Allegany County, New York
Angelica/Political
The village-owned Angelica Electric utility said it would temporarily halt service disconnections until summer 2026 after customers saw bills double or triple their normal cost during January and February. Officials attributed the spike to statewide factors outside the utility's control, including rising electricity demand, reduced generation capacity, high natural gas prices and a stretch of extreme cold weather that pushed grid costs to record highs. Mayor Claypool addressed residents directly on local radio to explain the situation and encourage anyone struggling to pay to contact the village office for payment arrangements or HEAP emergency assistance through Allegany County. The utility expected rates to ease once the temporary market conditions passed in spring.