Albany, NY—To ensure full public participation in its landmark regulatory reform efforts, the New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) announced today that it will conduct public statement hearings in Yonkers to seek public input and comment on the Commission’s regulatory component of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s overall strategic energy plan, Reforming the Energy Vision (REV).  The public statement hearings are among several being held across the State.

On April 25, 2014, the Commission instituted the REV proceeding to align electric utility practices and the Commission's regulatory paradigm with technological advances that have created alternatives to traditional solutions to meeting electricity demand.  Specifically, the Commission is considering a new business model for energy service providers where Distributed Energy Resources (DER) become a primary tool in the planning and operation of the electric system. 

On August 22, 2014, staff issued a straw proposal that included numerous recommendations for the Commission to consider in this proceeding including, the identity of the Distributed System Platform (DSP) provider, the entity that will manage and coordinate DER; wholesale market issues; opportunities for customer engagement; the extent to which electric utilities will be permitted to engage in the DER market; access to customer data; and utility energy efficiency programs.  The Commission now seeks further public comment on these issues. 

Public Statement Hearing

The public will have an opportunity to present comments at hearings before an Administrative Law Judge assigned by the Commission 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 each public statement hearing, representatives from staff will present an information session on what the REV initiative means for customers and be available to answer questions.  The information sessions will be immediately followed by public statement hearings where all those wishing to comment on REV and the straw proposal will have an opportunity to make a statement on the record. 

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

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2015

Yonkers Public Library

Grinton I. Will Branch

1500 Central Park Avenue

Yonkers, New York 10710

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. 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.

The staff straw proposal may be reviewed online by searching the case number (14-M-0101) on the Commission's website, www.dps.ny.gov, and by selecting the document titled "Developing the REV Market in New York: DPS Staff Straw Proposal on Track One Issues" filed on August 22, 2014.  Public comment will be accepted throughout the proceeding, but parties are encouraged to comment on Track One policy issues at one of the public statement hearings, or by other means, described below, prior to February 10, 2015.  All comments will become part of the record considered by the Commission.

 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-M-0101 Reforming the Energy Vision."

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 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-M-0101 in the input box labeled "Search for Case/Matter Number") and clicking on the “Public Comments” tab.  Many libraries offer free Internet access. 

The Commission’s decision in this case, when issued, may be obtained on the Commission’s website by searching for Case 14-M-0101 as described above.  Commission orders may also be obtained from the Commission’s Files Office, 14th floor, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12223 (518-474-2500).  If you have difficulty understanding English, please call us at 1?800?342-3377 for free language assistance services regarding this press release.