Con Edison has moved to defend itself after a Bronx barber told Donald Trump his electricity bill had skyrocketed 600 per cent to $15,000 this year.
The utility company, responsible for managing power across New York City, has clarified that Javier Rodriguez has been the victim of a simple ‘billing error.’
New York Times reporter Ashley Southall said Con Edison is working with Rodriguez to resolve the problem.
Rodriguez’s experience sparked uproar this week, after he told former president Trump about his financial woes when the Republican candidate visited the Bronx on a campaign stop.
The co-owner of Knockout Barbershop said: ‘My issue was more energy.
‘I’ve been paying $2,100 since I first opened up, and the last seven months it shot up to $15,000.’
Rodriguez’ experience sparked uproar this week, after he told former president Trump about his financial woes when the Republican candidate visited the Bronx on a campaign stop
Trump has made several big ticket economic commitments if he’s voted back into the White House in November
Trump appeared stunned by the exorbitant amount, telling the crowd: ‘I can’t believe it goes from $2,100 to $15,000. How many hair cuts do you have to give to make up that difference?’
‘They’ve really killed New York,’ he added.
Rodriguez has since provided an update, revealing he’d been assigned a case manager from Con Edison and sharing a record of a phone call between the pair.
‘Funny how it took this much media attention to fix issues,’ he said.
Rodriguez said he raised his concerns with the utility company two months ago, and received a response in mid-September offering a ‘$50 inconvenience relief’ until the proper adjustments to his bill could be made.
Trump appeared stunned by the exorbitant amount, telling the crowd: ‘I can’t believe it goes from $2,100 to $15,000. How many hair cuts do you have to give to make up that difference?’
Trump’s visit to the barbershop was part of a ‘Fox & Friends’ segment, and reportedly took the store’s owners by surprise
Southall said: ‘Billing errors are certainly common and the stress of trying to get them fixed can feel like it takes years off one’s life.
‘My read on this situation is that they have been working on a fix for some time.’
Trump’s visit to the barbershop was part of a ‘Fox & Friends’ segment, and reportedly took the store’s owners by surprise.
As he leveled with voters about the issues facing them, Trump said: ‘You guys are the same as me.
‘I grew up in Queens and all of that… He was a construction guy, pretty much, and a real estate guy, and I learned a lot from him.’
Trump has made several big ticket economic commitments if he’s voted back into the White House in November.
The foundation of his economic policy is to cut taxes, raise tariffs and reduce regulation.
Guests at the barbershop meet and greet were wearing ‘make barbers great again’ t-shirts
He has vowed to ‘steal’ back manufacturing jobs which have moved overseas, and to renegotiate trade deals in a manner which will focus on American production.
In particular, he wants to use more American resources – namely oil and gas – in energy and manufacturing.
Trump has also said he intends to get rid of taxes on tips and overtime, and wants to reduce corporate income tax to 15 per cent for companies which make their products locally.