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For Immediate Release: 01/22/16
Audrey Zibelman, Chair
Contact: Jon Sorensen | Jon.sorensen@dps.ny.gov | (518) 474-7080
16007/14-M-0101 January 22, 2016
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Public Information and Comment Hearings on REV – Reforming the Energy Vision– Set for Jan. 26 in Riverhead & Mineola – |
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ALBANY — Information and public comment sessions will take place Jan. 26 in Riverhead and Mineola on “Track Two” regulatory and business model changes that could occur under REV – Reforming the Energy Vision – Governor Andrew Cuomo’s comprehensive strategy to build a clean, resilient and affordable energy system for all New Yorkers.
Information sessions will take place from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the Suffolk County Legislative Building, 300 Center Drive, Riverhead and from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Nassau County Legislative Building, 1550 Franklin Ave, Mineola. The public will be invited to submit comments at hearings immediately following these hour-long sessions.
These are the first public events on Long Island that address the Public Service Commission’s REV proceeding. Both LIPA and the Commission are committed to ensuring that Long Island ratepayers have the same benefits of innovation, cost savings, and resilient energy that REV is bringing to the rest of NY State.
“Through regulatory overhaul, REV is remaking New York’s utilities to encourage the cleanest, most advanced, and efficient power system operation,” said Commission Chair Audrey Zibelman. “The goal is one electric market for the state – from Buffalo to Babylon – that puts customers first and offers more cost-saving choices in a growing clean-energy economy.”
As part of the Public Service Commission’s development of the regulatory framework for REV, the staff of the Public Service Commission issued a “Track Two” white paper last year, describing proposals for regulatory changes to spur innovation and new markets for cost-saving energy services. The white paper (“Ratemaking and Utility Business Models” – July 28, 2015) is available on the ‘Key Documents’ page of www.dps.ny.gov. The Jan. 26 hearings on Long Island are intended to address the issues discussed in this white paper. Additional hearings on other elements of REV are likely in the future.
In order to make comments on the record, it is not necessary to be present at the start of a hearing or to make an appointment in advance. Written materials will be accepted but they are not required of public speakers. Persons will be called to speak after completing a request card. The 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 DPS'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 to speaking at the formal hearings, members of the public desiring to comment may submit written comments by sending them electronically to the Commission’s 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, NY 12223-1350. Comments should refer to Case 14-M-0101.
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.
Opinion-line comments are not transcribed but are summarized, with the summary reported to the Consumer Advocate and the Commission. Written comments may be accessed on the Commission’s website by searching Case 14-M-0101 in the input box labeled "Search for Case Number" and clicking on the “Public Comments” tab. Many libraries offer free Internet access.
About Reforming the Energy Vision
Under Governor Cuomo’s Reforming the Energy Vision (REV), New York State is spurring clean-energy innovation and attracting new investment to build a cleaner, more resilient and affordable energy system for all New Yorkers. REV encompasses groundbreaking regulatory reform to integrate clean energy into the core of our power grid, redesigned programs and strategies to unlock private capital, and active leadership in deploying innovative energy solutions across the State’s own public facilities and operations. REV will enable a dynamic, clean-energy economy operating at a scale that will stimulate opportunities for communities across the state to create jobs and drive local economic growth, while protecting our environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants.
Successful initiatives already launched as part of REV include NY Sun, NY Green Bank, NY Prize, K-Solar, and a commitment to improve energy affordability for low-income communities. To learn more about REV, please visit www.ny.gov/REV4NY. |
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