If you've been paying more for your utility bills as of late, you are not alone and it could still go up.

Local utility company Orange & Rockland proposed increased rates for its electric and gas delivery services. It would increase the company's electric revenue by $24.5 million and gas by almost $10 million. 

Senator James Skoufis spoke out against the proposal and called for rates to not increase at all. 

"We’re here today to call on Orange & Rockland to read the writing on the wall: struggling Hudson Valley ratepayers can’t tolerate these surging bills and they shouldn’t be asked to bear an even larger financial burden," Skoufis said in a statement. "O&R must rescind its rate case immediately to ensure residents and small business owners won’t be asked to choose between keeping the lights on and feeding their families."

"Our constituents are being squeezed by energy costs at every turn and New York State needs to step in everywhere we can," Senator Elijah Reichlin-Melnick said in a statement. "Utility companies have a monopoly on electric and gas delivery. We are calling on O&R to reconsider imposing any rate hikes in this moment of unprecedented energy costs."

An Orange & Rockland spokesperson released a statement after Skoufis, Reichlin-Melnick and Assemblymember Ken Zebrowski held a press confrence on Friday outside Orange & Rockland Utilities offices:

"The Joint Proposal submitted by O&R, Department of Public Service Staff and other interested stakeholders to the PSC in settlement of O&R’s current electric and gas rate cases is designed to allow O&R to continue to provide for the safe and secure operation of its electric and natural gas delivery systems.

The Joint Proposal focuses particular attention on the future development of more clean energy projects, additional storm hardening programs, and assistance to low income customers, all of which are critical to our customers’ well-being and safety.

The rate increase reflected in the Joint Proposal for both electric and natural gas would average approximately 2% in each year of the three-year rate plan.

O&R has no plans to withdraw the Joint Proposal from consideration by the PSC."