ALBANY — The New York State Department of Public Service (Department) today announced that it will hold public statement hearings concerning the scope of the management and operations audit of the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) and PSEG Long Island LLC (PSEG LI) being undertaken by the Department as required by the 2013 LIPA Reform Act.

The comprehensive, proactive management and operations audit is mandated by the LIPA Reform Act to ensure ongoing improvement of management and operations of Long Island’s electric grid operator. The audit will review and evaluate the overall operations and management of LIPA and PSEG LI in the context of LIPA’s duty to protect the interests of Long Island’s energy customers and set rates at the lowest level consistent with sound fiscal and operating practices and which provide for safe and adequate service. The audit will include PSEG LI’s construction and capital program planning as it relates to the needs of customers for reliable service, the overall efficiency of LIPA’s and PSEG LI’s operations, the manner in which LIPA is meeting its debt service obligations; and LIPA’s Fuel and Purchased Power Cost Adjustment clause. Comments received from the public will further inform the issues to be examined in the upcoming audit as defined by these scope areas.

Public Statement Hearings

Interested members of the public are invited to attend the public statement hearings at which time they may provide their comments concerning the scope of the management and operations audit of LIPA and PSEG LI. The public statement hearings will be held as follows:

Tuesday, February 14, 2017 - 6:00 p.m.
Theodore Roosevelt Executive & Legislative Building
First Floor – Legislative Chambers
1550 Franklin Avenue, Mineola, NY 11501

Wednesday, February 15, 2017 - 6:00 p.m.
William H. Rogers Legislative Building
Rose Y. Caracappa Auditorium
725 Veterans Memorial Highway, Smithtown, NY 11787

It is not necessary to make an appointment in advance or to present written material to speak at the hearings.  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.  A verbatim transcript of the hearings will be made for inclusion in the record of these proceedings and will be posted to the Department’s website.

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 requires 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 Department at 1-800-342-3377 for free language assistance services regarding this notice. 

Other Ways to Comment

All comments should be provided to the Department of Public Service by February 28, 2017. For those who cannot attend or prefer not to speak at a public statement hearing, there are several other ways to send comments to the Department. Comments should refer to "Matter No. 16-01248 — LIPA and PSEG LI Management & Operations Audit."

Via the Internet or Mail: The public may enter comments directly into the case file from the Department of Public Service’s website, www.dps.ny.gov, by clicking on "Search" at the top of the page and then entering “16-01248” into the “Search by Case Number” field. In the open matter, access the screen to enter comments by clicking on the "Post Comments" box at the top right of the page. Comments may also be submitted electronically to the Hon. Kathleen H. Burgess, Secretary, at secretary@dps.ny.gov, or by mail or delivery to Secretary Burgess at the New York State Department of Public Service, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12223-1350. All written comments will become part of the record considered by the Department and can be read on the website by searching by the matter number, as described above, and clicking on the “Public Comments” tab. Many libraries offer free Internet access.

Toll-Free Opinion Line: Individuals may choose to submit comments by calling the Department’s Opinion Line at 1-800-335-2120. Callers should reference “Matter No. 16-01248 — LIPA and PSEG LI Management & Operations Audit.” This line is set up to receive in-state calls 24 hours a day. These calls are not transcribed verbatim, but a summary will be reported to the Department.