Public Hearing Set in New City for Suez Water Rockland County Rate Case

NEW CITY, NY — The New York State Public Service Commission announced Friday that it will hold a public hearing Sept. 29 regarding a joint proposal submitted by Suez Water New York Inc. and the New York State Department of Public Service staff.

The proposal was filed with the Commission Sept. 2.

Along with various other changes to the terms and conditions of SWNY’s provision of water service, the proposal outlines an increase in rates for water service provided by SWNY for three years, beginning Feb. 1, 2017.

The proposal, according to Suez and the Commission, institutes a "drought rate" — which increases the Company’s rate "by 25 percent of the highest block rate for each service classification if an authorized government entity enacts a mandatory county-wide water use restriction due to drought."

Other highlights of the proposal are linked to Rockland's plan to use water conservation as a primary way of holding off the need for additional water sources:

• A three-tiered residential rate structure to send a stronger price signal to customers to encourage conservation
• Rebates and other incentives to customers to promote the reduction of both indoor and outdoor water use.
• Workshops for irrigation contractors that provide education on outdoor water use best practices. and for trade groups to ensure that they are specifying and installing low water use appliances and fixtures.
• Promoting and raising awareness of the Company’s conservation programs via social media and collaboration with stakeholders
• Developing case studies based on real data for Rockland County to demonstrate water and money savings potential
• Developing the Company website as a stakeholder resource for water conservation information.

As for the Haverstraw Water Supply Project, Suez would transfer HWSP-related costs to a regulated asset and recover such costs in rates, amortized over 15 years, according to the proposal.

Suez and the Commission said the proposal also includes "many customer benefits, including: accelerating the replacement of transmission and distribution mains; continuing an earnings sharing mechanism that allows customers to share in the Company’s earnings above specified levels; establishing a conservation and efficiency program and related incentive mechanism; continuing a customer service performance incentive mechanism; and establishing a process to develop a low income rebate program."

The proposal, and all filings associated with this rate case, are available on the Department’s Web site. The Commission may adopt, reject or modify of the terms of the proposal. The Commission also may adopt terms other than those proposed. Members of the public wishing to comment on the proposal will have an opportunity to make a statement on the record at the hearing.

The hearing details:

WHEN: Public Statement Hearing begins at 6PM Thursday, September 29, 2016

WHERE: Legislative Chambers, Rockland County Office Building, 11 New Hempstead Road New City, New York 10956

Here's what the Commission says about commenting:

It is not necessary to make an appointment in advance, or to present written material to speak at the hearing. Persons will be called to speak after completing a request card. The hearing will be held open for a minimum of one hour, and will be kept open until everyone wishing to speak has been heard or other reasonable arrangements have been made to include their comments in the record.

Disabled persons requiring special accommodations should call the Department of Public Service's Human Resources Management Office at (518) 474-2520 as soon as possible. TDD users may request a sign language interpreter by placing a call through the New York Relay Service at 711. Individuals with difficulty understanding or reading English are encouraged to call the Commission at 1-800-342-3377 for free language assistance services regarding this notice.
Other Ways to Comment

For those who cannot attend or prefer not to speak at the hearing, there are several other ways to send comments to the Commission regarding this proposal. Comments should refer to "Case 16-W-0130 – Suez Water NY – Water Rates."

Internet or Mail: Go to the Web site, click on "Search," enter the case number (16-W-0130), and then click on "Post Comments" at the top of the page. Alternatively, comments may be e-mailed to the Secretary to the Commission at secretary@dps.ny.gov or mailed or delivered to Hon. Kathleen H. Burgess, Secretary, Public Service Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350. All written comments will become part of the record in this proceeding and will be reported to the Commission for its consideration. All written comments may be accessed on the Commission's Web site. Many libraries offer free Internet access.

Toll-Free Opinion Line: You may call the Commission's Opinion Line at 1-800-335-2120. This number is set up to take comments about pending cases from in-State callers, 24 hours a day. These comments are not transcribed verbatim, but a summary is provided to the Commission.

Comments submitted via these alternate means are requested by Dec. 9, 2016.