Elmira small business owner raises concerns over high energy bills | News

ELMIRA, N.Y. (WENY) — Swarthout’s Bait and Tackle shop on the southside of Elmira closed for the season in October of 2025. After being closed for months, the shop owner said she was caught off guard when she got a NYSEG bill in January 2026 for over $309.45.

“So we closed down [further]. We turned off the bait machine, we turned off all of the coolers, all the lights,” shop owner Melissa Rinker explained.

After January’s bill, Rinker said she unplugged all unnecessary equipment and turned the heat down from 55 to 40 degrees.

She said that didn’t make a difference, as she received a bill in February for $515.44. She says these bills are higher than some of the bills she pays during the peak summer season.

“When you’re looking at bills that, in June [2025], are $232, July $365 when I’m here every single day, lights on, all of my equipment is on,” Rinker said. “Versus a time when I’m not here, and my heat is only set to 40, it doesn’t make any sense to see a $515 bill.”

Last year, the shop didn’t close for the winter. Then, the bills were only slightly higher, at $420.08 and $586.26 over the same time period. Additionally, during the peak summer season, Rinker said her bills average around $350.

“It just didn’t make financial sense and business sense to be here and be open and freeze because I don’t dare hike the electric up,” Rinker said. “You know, we have baseboard heat. So, we’re trying our best to make everybody happy and not go broke doing it.”

WENY News compared the businesses’ bills from February 2025 and February 2026. In February 2025, Swarthout’s bill included a supply charge of $0.13 per kilowatt hour (kwh), with 2699 khw used. The February 2026 bill shows a supply charge of $0.27 per kwh, with 1138 kwh used.

That’s an increase of 99.5% over the past year. So, even though the bills show that the business used almost 1,500 kwh less in 2026 than in 2025, the charge per unit nearly doubled.

Rinker posted about her bill social media, expressing her shock and frustration with the amount, especially at a time when the business isn’t even operating.

“I joined the bandwagon because I got home from Florida and I said, ‘Oh my gosh, I don’t have any income, how am I going to pay this?'” Rinker asked.

NYSEG was not able to comment on specifics about the business’s bill, but they did provide the following statement.

“Energy supply prices have significantly risen this winter, and that increase is the primary driver behind higher bills across the state. Supply costs are set by the competitive energy market, not by NYSEG, and we do not mark them up or profit from them.

This winter’s colder temperatures have also increased statewide demand for electricity and natural gas, which further pushes supply prices higher. This explains why some bills, like the one you referenced, can be high even though usage is less.

We understand how challenging rising supply prices can be for customers. Anyone who is concerned about their bill or needs assistance is encouraged to contact our Customer Service team, where support programs and payment options are available.”