State Sen. David Carlucci is investigating higher-than-normal electric bills for Rockland residents.

He joined Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee and the Public Utility Law Project Thursday at Finkelstein Memorial Library in Spring Valley to look over residents' utility bills and to help solve any problems.

Carlucci also wrote a letter to O & R asking it to investigate nearly 90 constituent complaints made directly to his office.

O & R says the recent long wave of cold weather caused higher-than-normal bills.

Legislators are also blaming the costs on energy service companies, otherwise known as ESCOs, which claim to sell energy at a lower price than local utilities.

"That variable rate can change dramatically, and we believe these ESCOs are profiting off of tricking and manipulating people who aren't reading the fine print," says Carlucci.

Those who signed a contact with an ESCO have a right to get out of it.