ALBANY — The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) will hold two virtual public statement hearings on Thursday, February 13, 2025, regarding a proposal by Liberty Utilities (St. Lawrence Gas) Corp. (Liberty) to increase its annual gas delivery rates.

On November 27, 2024, Liberty filed proposed gas tariff schedules designed to increase its annual gas delivery revenues effective for the rate year beginning on November 1, 2025, and ending on October 31, 2026. Liberty seeks to increase its gas delivery revenues by approximately $2,174,020 (6.12 percent increase in total revenue, or 11.45 percent in delivery revenue). The requested increase in gas revenues would result in a monthly bill increase of $10.91 (11.3 percent increase on the total bill or 18.5 percent increase on the delivery bill) for a residential heating customer using 81 therms per month. Liberty indicates that the proposed gas delivery revenue increases are associated with the need to recover increased operating costs associated with Liberty’s responsibility to provide natural gas distribution service in a safe and reliable manner, make capital investments to continue to provide the level of service expected by customers, and advance the objectives of the New York State Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.

Liberty’s pre-filed testimony and exhibits in this proceeding may be reviewed online at the Department of Public Service website, www.dps.ny.gov, by clicking on “File Search” (located under the heading “Commission Files”) and entering the case number (24-G-0668) in the box labelled “Search by Case Number.” Under New York State law, the Commission must consider a utility's rate proposal and may adopt or reject it, in whole or in part, or modify it. In doing so, the Commission will consider changes proposed by the participating parties and the public. Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) are presiding over the gathering of public comments and all evidence relating to Liberty’s proposal.

Accordingly, public comment is invited concerning proposed changes in the gas delivery rates and practices of Liberty, and public statement hearings will be held to obtain such comments from the public. Those wishing to comment on any aspect of this proceeding will have the opportunity to make a statement on the record before the ALJs during virtual public statement hearings.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that virtual public statement hearings will be held on:

To participate electronically:

This option is for participants who would like to make a statement and who will log in to the hearing electronically. Such participants may log in at the date and time indicated above by visiting meetny-gov.webex.com, clicking “Join a Meeting” at the top right-hand corner of the screen, entering the event number and password listed above, clicking “Join Meeting,” and providing all requested information. When logging in on the date and time of the hearing, participants will be asked to “select audio system.” It is recommended that participants opt to have the system “call me” or “call using computer.” The “call me” option will require participants to enter their phone numbers.

To participate by phone:

Any participant who is not able to log in electronically may participate by phone. On the date and time of the hearing, call-in participants should dial +1-929-251-9612 and enter the applicable access code and phone-in password, listed above.

To listen to the virtual public statement hearings:

This option is available to anyone who wishes to listen only. At the designated time, please call +1-929-251- 9612 and enter the applicable access code and phone-in password, listed above.

All participants will be muted upon entry into the hearing. The ALJs will call upon each person who asks to make a statement and will continue each hearing until everyone wishing to speak has been heard or other reasonable arrangements to submit comments into the record have been made. Reasonable time limits may be set for each speaker as necessary to afford all attendees an opportunity to be heard. It is recommended that lengthy comments be submitted in writing and summarized for oral presentation. A verbatim transcript of each public statement hearing will be made for inclusion in the record of this proceeding.

Persons with disabilities 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 Department at 1-800-342-3377 for free language assistance services.

Other Ways to Comment

For those who cannot attend or prefer not to speak at a public statement hearing, there are several other ways to provide your comments to the Commission. Comments should refer to “Case 24-G-0668 – Liberty” and must be submitted no later than February 20, 2025.

Internet or Mail: Go to www.dps.ny.gov, click on “File Search” (located under the heading “Commission Files”), enter “24-G-0668” in the box labelled “Search by Case Number,” and then click on “Post Comment” located at the top right of the page. Alternatively, comments may be mailed to the Hon. Michelle L. Phillips, Secretary, Public Service Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350.

Toll-Free Opinion Line: Individuals may choose to submit comments by calling the Commission’s Opinion Line at 1-800-335-2120. This number is set up to receive comments about pending cases from in-State callers 24-hours a day. These comments are not transcribed verbatim, but a summary is provided to the Commission.

All written comments will become part of the record considered by the Commission and may be accessed on the Department of Public Service website by searching the case number, as described above, and clicking on the “Public Comments” tab.