Meet our Staff: Leigh Miller of Tompkins County

On a watercolor green and yellow background is a smiling young woman with brown wavy hair and a floral top. The graphic reads, "Meet our Staff" and "Leigh Miller (she/ her)" with a logo that reads "Cornell Cooperative Extension Smart Energy Choices a

Leigh Miller (she/her) studied Environment & Sustainability in college. After graduating, she knew she wanted a role that would advance sustainability solutions for her local community. Having previously interned for HeatSmart Tompkins and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tioga County, it was natural for her to seek out the Community Energy Advisor position at Smart Energy Choices.

“I’m very interested in the bigger issue of climate change and want to help reduce emissions and have a better, more environmentally friendly world for future generations.”
— Leigh Miller

Leigh has been in Tompkins County most of her life, and she thoroughly enjoys working on a small scale to help her community. She said this small scope allows her to see the significant impact she has on the residents she serves every day, encouraging her to continue pursuing the Hub’s mission of educating residents on energy-related issues.

Leigh has become well-versed in the various grant programs and financial incentives that people can access to reduce their energy bills, so she welcomes the opportunity to help residents navigate them. In her spare time, Leigh likes to dive into a good book or spend time outside going on walks and runs.

Contact Leigh for more information on clean energy technologies or energy advising. 

NYSEG Rate Hikes on Gas & Electricity

By Jes Wickham


Starting in November 2023, customers of New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) saw and will continue to see an increase in their utility bills. This was a result of the recent rate case agreement between the utility and the state regulating agency, the New York Public Service Commission. 

Under the three-year agreement, NYSEG residential electric customers with average usage rates saw their monthly electric bill increase by just under $10 in November 2023. Their bill will increase by another $9 starting May 2024 and by another $11 starting May 2025. This adds up to an extra $30 a month for the average electric bill. Residential gas heating customers with average usage rates saw their monthly bill increase by nearly $5 in November 2023, and that will increase by another $2 in May 2024 and by another $4 in May 2025, a total of $11 during this period.

Most of this increase comes from an increased delivery charge (see image below). This charge is what NYSEG charges for delivering the energy through their network of transmission lines. Over the next year and a half, this charge will increase by 62% for electricity and by 17.6% for gas compared to October 2023 rates. The rest comes from an increase in the “basic service charge” on a bill, a fixed monthly charge to cover utility costs, which increased by $2 in November of 2023 for most electric and gas customers. 

If you are concerned with being able to pay these increased costs, there are steps you can take. Smart Energy Choices recommends that residents get an energy audit; they’re free, and they can provide you with possible solutions to make your home more energy efficient. Income-eligible households can qualify for programs that cover measures that can help seal cracks in your home, meaning you’ll use less heat and spend less on utility bills. 

There are also assistance programs available to make your utility costs more affordable; reach out to Smart Energy Choices to explore your options, including assistance from NYSEG themselves for income-qualified households. CCE Tompkins staff can also connect interested residents to programs that can help income-qualified households reduce their energy use and upgrade to energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, which can bring down your bills even further.