Virtual Public Statement Hearing Set Regarding Dover Plains Water Company’s Proposed Rate Increase

ALBANY — The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) will hold a virtual public statement hearing on Tuesday, February 6, 2024, concerning the proposed rate increase of Dover Plains Water Company. The water utility serves approximately 280 customers in the Village of Dover Plains, Town of Dover, Dutchess County.

On August 24, 2023, Dover Plains Water Company filed an amendment to its tariff schedule P.S.C. No. 5 – Water, seeking to increase its annual revenues by about $85,485 (67 percent) to be effective on January 1, 2024. The proposed effective date was suspended until May 2024.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a virtual public statement hearing will be held before the assigned Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) on:

DATE: TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2024

TIME: 2:00 P.M.

Electronic Access: www.webex.com

Event Number: 2334 400 7924

Password: Feb6-2pm

Phone-Only Access: 518-549-0500

Access Code: 2334 400 7924

Password: 33260276

To register and provide a statement electronically: Participants who would like to provide a statement and will log in to the hearing electronically must register to do so by visiting www.webex.com by 4:30 p.m. Monday, February 5, 2024. From the Webex homepage, registrants should click “Join a Meeting” at the top right-hand corner of the screen, enter the appropriate meeting number listed above, click “Register” (it is not necessary to add the webinar password for registration), and provide all requested information.

When logging in on the date and time of the hearing, participants should visit www.webex.com, click “Join a Meeting” at the top right-hand corner of the screen, and input the appropriate meeting number and password for 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 register and provide a statement by phone: Participants who are not able to log in to the hearing electronically may participate by phone. Call-in participants wishing to make a statement at the hearing must register to do so by the deadline indicated above by calling 1-800-342-3330, where they should follow prompts to the appropriate hearing and provide the following information: first name and last name, address, and phone number.

On the day and time of the hearing, participants should dial (518) 549-0500 and enter the event number and password listed above to join the hearing.

All participants will be muted upon entry into the hearing. The ALJ will call on each person who has registered to speak. The ALJ will continue the hearing until everyone wishing to speak has been heard or other reasonable arrangements have been made to include their comments in the record. 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 the hearing will be made for inclusion in the record of this case.

To listen to the hearing: Any person who would like to listen to the hearing but does not intend to make a statement may access the hearing without registering. Any person without internet access may listen to the hearing by calling (518) 549-0500 and entering the access code.

Persons with disabilities requiring reasonable accommodations should call the Department of Public Service’s Human Resources Management Office at (518) 474-2520 as soon as possible. Users of Telecommunication Devices for the Deaf may request a sign language interpreter by placing a call through the New York Relay Service at 711. Individuals with difficulty understanding or reading the English language are encouraged to call the Commission at 1-800-342-3377 for free language assistance services regarding this notice.

Other Ways to Comment

For those who cannot attend or prefer not to speak at a public statement hearing, there are other ways to provide your comments to the Commission. Comments should refer to “Case 23- W-0467 – Dover Plains Water Company Minor Rates.” Although comments will be accepted throughout the pendency of this proceeding, they are requested by April 1, 2024.

Internet or Mail: Go to www.dps.ny.gov, click on “File Search” (located under the “Commission Files” heading), enter “23-W-0467” in the “Search by Case Number” field, and then click on “Post Comments” at the top of the page.

Alternatively, comments may be mailed to the Hon. Michelle L. Phillips, Secretary, New York State Public Service Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York, 12223-1350. 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.

Toll-Free Opinion Line: You may call the Commission’s Opinion Line at 1-800-335-2120. This number is set up to take comments about pending cases from in-state callers 24-hours a day. These calls are not transcribed verbatim, but a summary is provided to the Commission.

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