ALBANY — The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) announced it is seeking public comment on a joint proposal filed by New York State Electric & Gas Corporation (NYSEG) and Rochester Gas & Electric Corporation (RG&E) on February 19, 2016. The proposal being considered by the Commission would increase electric and gas delivery rates over a three-year period beginning May 1, 2016 and ending April 20, 2019.

The public will have an opportunity to present their comments on the proposal at eight separate hearings before an Administrative Law Judge assigned by the Commission to hear the cases. A verbatim transcript of the hearings will be made for inclusion in the record of the proceeding.

The public statement hearings will be held as follows:

For NYSEG, the proposal would spread out rate increases for both electric and gas delivery service over three years.  The proposal would produce annual delivery rate increases of 4.1 percent for electric customers and 7.3 percent for gas customers.  These increases would result in average overall (i.e. both commodity and delivery) bill increases for customers of approximately 2.7 percent for electric and 4.1 percent for gas. 

For RG&E, the proposal calls for rate increases that vary by rate year for both electric and gas delivery service. The proposal would produce an annual delivery rate increase of 0.7 percent for electric and 5.2 percent for gas in rate year one; 5 percent for electric and 4.4 percent for gas in rate year two; and 5.7 percent for electric and 5.2 percent for gas in rate year three.  The increase would result in average bill increases of .05 percent for electric and 2.8 percent for gas in rate year one; 3.4 percent for electric and 2.4 percent for gas in rate year two, and 3.9 percent for electric and 2.9 percent for gas in rate year three. 

The actual bill impacts for NYSEG and RG&E customers will vary by customer class based on revenue allocations and rate design. Along with the companies, the proposal was signed by seven parties representing different interests, including staff of the Department of Public Service.

It is not necessary to make an appointment in advance or to present written material in order to speak at the public statement hearings. Speakers will be called after completing a card requesting time to speak. Disabled persons requiring special accommodations may place a collect call to 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 to reach the Department of Public Service’s Human Resource Office at the previously mentioned number.

In addition to the formal hearings, members of the public may deliver comments on these proceedings as follows:

Department’s Website: Comments may be entered directly into the case record by locating the case via the home page of the Commission’s website, www.dps.ny.gov, by clicking on “Search,” and entering the associated case number (noted above) in the “Search by Case Number” field. After clicking to open the case, enter comments in the “Post Comments” section located at the top of the page

Internet or Mail: Comments may be sent electronically to the Secretary, at secretary@dps.ny.gov, or mailed or delivered to Hon. Kathleen H. Burgess, Secretary, Public Service Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12223-1350. Your comments should refer to “Cases 15-E-0283 and 15-G-0284 – NYSEG Rate Case and/or Cases 15-E-0285 and 15-G-0286 — RG&E Rate Case.”

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, mentioning the NYSEG and RG&E Rate Cases.

The full text of the proposal, including a breakdown of expected bill impacts by customer class, may be viewed online at DPS’s www.dps.ny.gov website. From the homepage, click on “Search,” and enter any of the case numbers 15-E-0283, 15-G-0284, 15-E-0285 or 15-G-0286.

Public comments are requested no later by April 20, 2016, but will be accepted throughout the pendency of this proceeding. Comments will become part of the record considered by the Commission. Written comments may be accessed on the Commission’s website by searching 15-E-0283, 15-G-0284, 15-E-0285 or 15-G-0286 (at www.dps.ny.gov, enter Case Number 15-E-0283, 15-G-0284, 15-E-0285 or 15-G-0286 in the input box labeled "Search for Case/Matter Number") and clicking on the “Public Comments” tab. Many libraries offer free Internet access. If you have difficulty understanding English, please call us at 1?800?342-3377 for free language assistance services regarding this press release.