NYSEG Wants 15 Percent Electric Rate Increase; Hearing Scheduled

YORKTOWN, NY — New York State Electric & Gas Corporation is seeking to raise its electric and gas delivery rates in April 2020. NYSEG filed the new tariff schedules May 20.

The state Public Service Commission announced Thursday that an additional information forum and public statement hearing in Yorktown to get comments on the proposed changes.

The public information and comment session will be held as follows:

• Thursday, Sept. 5: 6 p.m. Information session; 7 p.m. Public Statement Hearing

It will be held at the Yorktown Town Hall Boardroom, 363 Underhill Ave. in Yorktown Heights.

Under NYSEG’s proposal, annual electric delivery rates would increase by $174.5 million (22.7 percent on base delivery revenues and 11.6 percent in total revenues) and annual gas delivery rates would increase by $9.4 million (4.6 percent in gas delivery revenues and 2.1 percent in total revenues).

NYSEG projects that the average residential monthly electric bill would increase by $11.23 (or 15.0 percent on the total bill). The average monthly residential gas bill will increase by $1.71 (or 1.9 percent on the total bill).

According to NYSEG, "vegetation management" is the primary reason for the requested electric rate increase.

For the gas delivery rate increase, NYSEG is citing depreciation, infrastructure investment and increases to operation and maintenance expenses.

At the public statement hearing, anyone can make a statement on the record. It is not necessary to make an appointment in advance in order to speak at the hearing.

Anyone wishing to comment will need to complete a card requesting time to speak when they arrive at the hearing. They will be called in the order in which the cards are received.

Written copies of comments are not required but may be submitted.

People with disabilities requiring reasonable accommodations should call the Department of Public Service's Human Resource Management Office at 518-474-2520 as soon as possible.

Users of Telecommunication Devices for the Deaf may request a sign language interpreter by placing a call through the New York Relay Service at 711. Individuals with difficulty understanding or reading the English language 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 a public statement hearing, there are several other ways to comment about these cases to the Commission. Comments should refer to one or more of the following cases: "Case 19-E-0378" (NYSEG electric rates) and "Case 19-G-0379" (NYSEG gas rates).

Internet or Email: Go to www.dps.ny.gov, click on “Search,” enter the applicable case number (19-E-0378 or 19-G-0379) and then click the “Post Comments” button at the top of the page; or email comments to the Secretary for the Commission at secretary@dps.ny.gov.

By Mail or Hand Delivery: Alternatively, comments may be mailed or delivered to the Honorable Kathleen H. Burgess, Secretary, Public Service Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350.

Toll-Free Opinion Line: Commenters also 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. Comments provided through the Toll-Free Opinion Line are not transcribed, but a summary is provided to the ALJs and to the Commission for its consideration.

Comments submitted via these alternative means will be accepted throughout these proceedings. Written comments received by the Department will become part of the record considered by the Commission. Written comments may be viewed online by going to www.dps.ny.gov, clicking on “Search,” entering the applicable case number (19-E-0378 or 19-G-0379), and then clicking on the “Public Comments” tab.

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