Con Edison says rising fuel and electricity prices are forcing it to increase rates 22 percent, the biggest year-to-year increase on record.

The utility originally talked about a 13 percent increase, but settled on 22 percent because of rising costs. Rates for businesses will go up 25 percent.

State Assemblyman Richard Brodsky (D-Greenburgh) says such increases are the effect of what he calls a ?bizarre? system of purchasing and distributing electricity. He says the system creates a monopoly and leaves the consumers with no alternative or ability to affect outcome.

Part of the 22 percent increase includes a summer-to-summer increase passed by the state in April. Con Ed says electricity bills may go down if fuel prices drop or if July and August are cooler than expected.