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Democratic Representative Josh Riley introduced legislation aimed at lowering utility bills by restricting executive bonuses during rate hikes and banning foreign ownership of utilities. Labor and construction industry groups criticized these measures as ineffective, emphasizing the need for continued investment in modernizing infrastructure and supporting local workers. The Hudson Valley Building and Construction Trades Council president Todd Diorio stated that the proposed laws do not address the actual needs of workers or customers seeking lower bills and more reliable power. Riley’s senior adviser highlighted the large sums sent by New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) and Central Hudson to their foreign parent companies while requesting rate increases from Upstate families.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-24,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Democratic Rep. Josh Riley proposed two bills aimed at lowering utility costs in upstate New York, including restrictions on executive bonuses when rates rise faster than inflation and banning foreign ownership of utilities. However, labor and construction industry groups criticized these proposals. Todd Diorio, president of the Hudson Valley Building and Construction Trades Council, said Riley's legislation does not reflect what workers need for the region’s development. Similarly, Steve Carroll, president and business manager of IBEW Local 320, emphasized that his members are crucial to maintaining energy infrastructure in the Hudson Valley and stressed the importance of continuing investments in grid modernization and local workforce development. Riley's efforts have been met with skepticism from these unions due to perceived disconnects between proposed legislation and actual needs for reliable utility services.
Written for “Union Opposition To Legislation” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Labor and construction industry groups lashed out at Democratic Rep. Josh Riley and pushed back against his claims that two bills he pitched would bring down energy costs.
uncertain
he → lash → costs
The Hudson Valley lawmaker touted legislation in a new advertisement that would restrict executive bonuses when rates rise faster than inflation — and also ban foreign ownership of utilities.
asserted
rates → tout → utilities
“These bills will not lower costs or change the work that needs to be done,” said Steve Carroll, president and business manager of the IBEW Local 320 labor union, which represents Central Hudson employees performing maintenance work.
asserted
which → lower → work
“Our members build and maintain the infrastructure that keeps power flowing across the Hudson Valley.
asserted
power → build → Valley
We need to keep investing in the grid and the skilled local workers who make reliable service possible,” he continued.
asserted
he → need → grid
While Riley introduced the two bills to squash rising energy prices, labor leaders slammed the legislation as misguided and said they ignore the investments utilities have made to modernize the energy infrastructure in the district.
asserted
utilities → introduce → district
“We consider Congressman Riley a friend to labor, but the proposed legislation doesn’t reflect what the people building this region and the communities they serve actually need,” Todd Diorio, president of the Hudson Valley Building and Construction Trades Council, told The Post.
asserted
Diorio → consider → Post
“Our members want lower bills and more reliable power, and we don’t see these bills providing either.”
asserted
bills → want → either
Others piled on the Democrat.
asserted
Others → pile → Democrat
“Congressman Riley continues to say that he’s ‘“’taking on utilities’” ‘without addressing the day-to-day needs of its workers or customers,” Roman Cefali, business manager and financial secretary of IBEW Local 10, said in a statement.
asserted
Cefali → continue → statement
Riley senior adviser Mauranda Evans pushed back — noting the congressman is seeking $2.5 million for a new line-worker training facility at SUNY Delhi and has called for investing the grid.
asserted
congressman → push → grid
“Josh’s fight is with foreign-owned utility monopolies taking hundreds of millions out of Upstate while demanding families pay more,” Evans said.
asserted
Evans → own → more
“NYSEG sent $450 million to its Spanish parent company while preparing to seek more than $500 million in higher rates,” she added.
asserted
she → send → rates
“Central Hudson sends about $80 million a year to its Canadian parent company.
asserted
Hudson → send → company
Then they come back in rate case after rate case asking Upstate families for more.”
asserted
they → come → more
Riley, who has held on to the seat stretching from the Catskills to Ithaca since 2025, is facing a re-election battle against Peter Oberacker — the GOP State Senator who bizarrely saluted his Nazi grandfather in a Veterans Day post.
asserted
who → hold → post
The volatile swing district has over 540,000 registered voters, with around 20,000 more registered Democrats than the roughly 170,000 registered Republicans and almost 150,000 registered independents.
asserted
district → have → Republicans
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