Over the last several years utility bills in upstate NY have risen, the utility companies have consolidated, and no one seems to work directly for the utility companies except bookkeepers and collection agents? The days when you knew someone who a had a good job as linemen or customer service agent seem to have vanished.
Emperor Andy is more responsible than you might first guess. Andy has seeded the boards of utilities across the state with his henchmen. A Politico article here details the racket. Everything in NY is a racket.