The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) announced today that it will hold public statement hearings on a request by Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. (Con Edison) to increase electric, gas and steam rates. 

On January 25, 2013, Con Edison filed a request with the Commission for approval of a major change in the amount of revenues it collects from customers through the rates they pay for electric, gas and steam delivery service.  Con Edison proposes to increase its electric rates by approximately $419.9 million (or 8 percent), gas rates by approximately $24.3 million (or 2.5 percent), and its steam service rates and charges by approximately $10.2 million (or 2.3 percent), for the 12-month period beginning January 1, 2014.  Overall electric, gas and steam customer bills would increase by 3.7 percent, 1.3 percent, and 1.6 percent, respectively.

The Commission will consider the utility's proposals and may adopt or reject them in whole or in part, or adopt changes not proposed by the company. Administrative Law Judges are presiding over the gathering of public comments and all evidence relating to the proposal.  Department of Public Service (DPS) Staff and other parties have evaluated the facts and circumstances of Con Edison's requests and made their own proposals to the Commission that the revenues to be collected from customers should be substantially lower than the level of revenues requested by Con Edison.

The dates, locations and times for the hearings are as follows:

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2013

New York State Department of Public Service

90 Church Street

4^th Floor Board Room

New York, NY

5:30 p.m.

All persons attending the public statement hearing on October 9, 2013 must show valid photo identification upon arrival at 90 Church Street.                                                                           

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2013

Yonkers Public Library

1 Larkin Center

Yonkers, NY 10701

5:30 p.m. 

Members of the New York State Department of Public Service Staff will be available to answer questions and provide additional information about these cases at both hearings.  During the public statement hearing, members of the public will have the opportunity to present comments before an Administrative Law Judge and a Public Service Commissioner on Con Edison’s proposed rate increases.  The Public Statement Hearing will be held open for a minimum of one hour, and will be kept open until everyone wishing to speak has been heard or other reasonable arrangements are made.

It is not necessary to make an appointment in advance or to present written material in order to speak at the public statement hearing.  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. 

Other Ways to Comment

Internet or Mail:  In addition to the formal hearings, comments may be sent electronically to the Secretary, at secretary@dps.ny.gov, or mailed or delivered to Hon. Kathryn H. Burgess, Secretary, Public Service Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350.  Your comments should refer to “Cases 13-E-0030, 13-G-0031, and 13-S-0032 – Consolidated Edison.”

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.

Formal comments are requested by September 27, 2013, but they 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 Web site by searching Case 13-E-0030, 13-G-0031, or 13-S-0032 and clicking on the “Public Comments” tab.  Many libraries offer free Internet access.  If you have difficulty understanding English, please call the Department at 1-800-342-3377 for free language assistance services regarding this press release.

The Commission’s decision today, when issued, may be obtained by going to the Commission Documents section of the Commission’s Web site at www.dps.ny.gov and entering Case 13-E-0030, 13-G-0031, or 13-S-0032 in the input box labeled "Search for Case/Matter Number."  Many libraries offer free Internet access. 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.