ALBANY — The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) announced today that it will hold public statement hearings on a proposal for a Reliability Support Services Agreement (RSSA) between R. E. Ginna Nuclear Power Plant, LLC (GNPP) and Rochester Gas & Electric Corporation (RG&E) which would allow for continued operation of the Ginna Facility located in the Town of Ontario, Wayne County.

In a November 14, 2014 order, the Commission found that continued operation of the Ginna Facility is necessary to preserve the reliability of the electric system, and directed RG&E to enter into negotiations with GNPP for an RSSA.  In response, on February 13, 2015, RG&E filed a request with the Commission seeking approval of an RSSA between RG&E and GNPP for continued operation of the Ginna Facility.  RG&E also sought changes to its tariff to allow the utility to charge ratepayers for the costs associated with the continued operation of the power plant.  Those costs would be recovered by means of a surcharge mechanism. 

RG&E’s Proposal

Under the terms of the RSSA, GNPP would continue to operate the Ginna Facility in return for monthly payments from RG&E of $17.5 million, less the value of certain revenues received by GNPP through the sale of energy, capacity, and ancillary services.  The agreement would run from April 1, 2015 through September 30, 2018.  The RSSA may be terminated early, upon payment of a settlement amount, if alternative means of ensuring electric system reliability can be implemented by RG&E.  It may also be extended if operation of the Ginna Facility is needed for reliability beyond the initial term of the agreement.

Although the term of the agreement begins on the April 1, 2015, RG&E will only begin making payments after the RSSA has received necessary government approvals.  If the RSSA is approved, RG&E then will be required to provide payment of an amount equal to what would have been owed during the period from April 1, 2015 to the date of the approval, with interest.

Over the life of the agreement, RG&E estimates that the average residential customer using 600 kWh per month will incur an approximately 4.2 percent increase ($3.89 a month) on its overall electric bill.  The actual amount will vary monthly depending on the market price of energy supply and capacity and will also depend of the timing of the required government approvals. 

Public Statement Hearing

The public will have an opportunity to present comments at hearings before an Administrative Law Judge assigned by the Department to hear this case.  A verbatim transcript of the hearings will be made for inclusion in the record of the proceeding.

The public statement hearings will be held as follows:

WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2015

Town of Webster Parks & Recreation Building

1350 Chiyoda Drive

Webster, NY  14580

Public Statement Hearings          4:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.

THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2015

City of Rochester, Council Chambers

Rochester City Hall

30 Church Street

Rochester, NY  14614

Public Statement Hearings          4:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.

It is not necessary to be present at the start of the hearing, 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.  Each public statement hearing will continue until everyone wishing to speak has been heard or other reasonable arrangements have been made.  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

Internet or Mail:  In addition speaking at the formal hearings, members of the public desiring to comment may submit written comments by sending them electronically to the Secretary at secretary@dps.ny.gov or by mail or delivery to Hon. Kathleen H. Burgess, Secretary, Public Service Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350.  Comments should refer to "Case 14-E-0270 – Petition of Rochester Gas and Electric Corporation – Ginna Reliability Support Services Agreement.”

Toll-free Opinion Line:  Comments may also be submitted through the Commission’s Opinion Line at 1-800-335-2120.  This number is designed to take comments about pending cases from in-state callers, 24 hours a day.  Callers should press “1” to leave comments for the cases referenced above.  These comments are not transcribed but are summarized, with the summary reported to the Administrative Law Judge and the Commission.

Comments are requested by May 20, 2015, but will be accepted throughout the pendency of this proceeding.  Written comments will become part of the record considered by the Commission.  Written comments may be accessed on the Commission’s website by searching Case 14-E-0270 in the input box labeled "Search for Case Number" and clicking on the “Public Comments” tab.  Many libraries offer free Internet access.