PLATTSBURGH — Assemblymember Michael Cashman wants to see more state intervention in the soaring energy costs.

“The energy costs are far too high, and this has been occurring for months and months and months, and we have to get it under control,” Cashman, D-Plattsburgh, said last week.

“We also need to get the Public Service Commission under control, hold guardrails, have accountability with auditing and we also need the governor to step forward and to intervene because the costs are just too high.

“I’ve talked to NYSEG. I’ve talked to National Grid. It’s all of the power companies … people are being hit in the pockets, they’re being hit at the kitchen tables. We need intervention.”

Cashman said he would support Gov. Kathy Hochul declaring an energy state of emergency in New York.

“Because it’s families in the North Country to families downstate, this is a corner-to-corner issue,” he said.

In his conversations with power companies, Cashman said he heard the same story they’ve told customers about costs skyrocketing.

The reality is power companies are at “all-time profits” right now, he said.

“They have abdicated their responsibility over the years for building out a grid at the rate that they should have, and the fees are being leveraged on the rate payers,” Cashman said.

“It really is not something that people can shop out how they’re getting electricity into their homes. This is something that is impacting everyone from the senior that’s on a fixed income to the family to the business owners. I’ve heard from a wide range of people throughout the district, and so have my colleagues, and that’s why I’m calling for intervention, and that’s also why I’m taking a dual approach, though, by making sure that there’s legislation there as well.”

Cashman has made high energy costs facing residents a priority in his first few months in office.

He introduced bill A09426, which would stabilize electric costs for New York consumers, restrict unreasonable rate and fee increases, and establish additional auditing and enforcement authorities within his first two weeks.

Cashman said his bill is currently moving through the process for consideration and has gained more co-sponsors since its introduction.

“Because I heard this as a Plattsburgh town supervisor. When I was on the town board, our town board passed a resolution to elevate this conversation,” Cashman said.

“And I will continue to be dogged in an approach that will bring relief to people at their homes.”