Albany—the New York State Department of Public Service (DPS) announced today that it will conduct public statement hearings in Riverhead and Smithtown (Suffolk County) , Mineola (Nassau County), and Far Rockaway (Queens)  to seek public input and comment on PSEG Long Island’s three-year electric rate proposal.

On January 30, 2015, PSEG Long Island submitted its three-year rate plan for 2016 through 2018 for review by the DPS in accordance with Public Service Law § 3-b and Public Authorities Law § 1020-f.  Public input and comments on the plan are requested and will be taken into account by the DPS in its review and in the development of its recommendations.

PSEG Long Island proposes an approximate 2 percent increase in aggregate annual electric revenues, which would result in an approximate 4 percent annual increase in the delivery charge portion of the customer bills for each of the next three years. In addition, PSEG Long Island proposes investments in the following areas:  maintaining and modernizing the electric system; implementing enhanced technologies to help customers manage their accounts; improving infrastructure to address storm preparedness and response; and improving system reliability by implementing an industry best-practice Vegetation Management Program.

Public Statement Hearing

The public will have an opportunity to present comments at hearings before Administrative Law Judges 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.

In the hour prior to the public statement hearing, representatives from PSEG Long Island and DPS staff will describe the three-year rate proposal and review process.  The information session will be immediately followed by the public statement hearing where those wishing to comment on PSEG Long Island’s rate proposal will have an opportunity to make a statement on the record. 

The informational forums and public statement hearings will be held as follows:

MONDAY, MARCH 2, 2015

Riverhead Public Library

330 Court Street

Riverhead, NY 11901

Information Session                      5:30 PM

Public Statement Hearing            6:30 PM

TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2015

William H. Rogers Legislative Building

Legislative Auditorium

725 Veterans Memorial Highway

Smithtown, NY 11787

Information Session                      6:00 PM

Public Statement Hearing            7:00 PM

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 2015

Queens Library at Seaside

116-15 Rockaway Beach Blvd.

Rockaway Park, NY 11694

Information Session                      1:00 PM

Public Statement Hearing            2:00 PM

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 2015

Theodore Roosevelt Executive & Legislative Building

Legislative Chambers

1550 Franklin Avenue

Mineola, NY 11501

Information Session                      6:00 PM

Public Statement Hearing            7:00 PM

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.

A copy of PSEG Long Island’s three-year rate proposal may be viewed on the Department's website by searching Matter 15-00262 (at www.dps.ny.gov, enter Matter 15-00262 in the box labeled "Search by Case Number") or by clicking on the following link:  PSEG-LI-Electric-Rates.

The Department's recommendation to the Long Island Power Authority Board of Trustees is due September 27, 2015; therefore, comments should be submitted by July 1, 2015.  All comments will become part of the record considered by the Department.

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 Secretary at secretary@dps.ny.gov or by mail or delivery to Hon. Kathleen H. Burgess, Secretary, New York State Department of Public Service, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350.  Comments should refer to "Matter 15-00262 PSEG-LI Electric Rates."

Toll-free Opinion Line:  Comments may also be submitted through the Department’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 a summary will be reported to the Department.

Written comments will become part of the record considered by the Department.  Written comments may be accessed on the Department’s website by searching Matter 15-00262 in the input box labeled "Search for Case/Matter Number") and clicking on the “Public Comments” tab.  Many libraries offer free Internet access. 

The Department’s recommendation in this case, when issued, may be obtained on the Department’s website by searching for Case 15-00262 as described above.  If you have difficulty understanding English, please call us at 1?800?342-3377 for free language assistance services regarding this press release.