ALBANY — The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) today announced it would hold an additional informational forum and public statement hearing on Staten Island to receive comments on a proposal by The Brooklyn Union Gas Company d/b/a National Grid NY (KEDNY) to increase gas rates for customers.

On April 30, 2019, KEDNY filed amendments to its gas tariff schedules, proposing to increase their annual gas delivery revenues effective March 28, 2020. KEDNY proposes to increase its annual gas delivery revenues by $236.8 million (an increase of 19.3 percent in gas delivery revenues and 13.6 percent in total revenues).

Under New York State Law, the Commission may adopt, reject or modify in whole or in part the KEDNY proposals. In considering the proposals, the Commission will review the positions proposed by the participating parties and the general public. Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) will preside over the public statement hearings, the gathering of public comments, the evidentiary hearing, and all evidence relating to the proposals.

Opportunities for public information and comment will be held, as follows:

Further information and KEDNY’s pre-filed testimony and exhibits in these proceedings may be reviewed online at the Department of Public Service web page (www.dps.ny.gov) by searching under Case 19-G-0309.

At the public statement hearings, those wishing to comment on the KEDNY rate proposals will have an opportunity to make a statement on the record. It is not necessary to make an appointment in advance in order to speak at the hearing.

Persons wishing to comment will be asked to complete a card requesting time to speak when they arrive at the hearing and then will be called in the order in which the cards are received.

Speakers may, but are not required to, provide written copies of their comments.

Each public statement hearing will be held open for a minimum of one-half hour and will be kept open until everyone wishing to speak has been heard or other reasonable arrangements have been made to submit comments. A verbatim transcript of the hearings will be made for inclusion in the record.

Persons with disabilities requiring reasonable accommodations should contact the Department of Public Service’s Human Resource 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 several other ways to comment about these cases to the Commission. Comments should refer to “Case 19-G-0309 - The Brooklyn Union Gas Company d/b/a National Grid.”

Internet or Email: Go to www.dps.ny.gov, click on “Search,” search using case number “19-G-0309” and then click the “Post Comments” button at the top of the page; or email comments to the Secretary for the Commission at secretary@dps.ny.gov.

By Mail or Hand Delivery: Alternatively, comments may be mailed or delivered to the Honorable Kathleen H. Burgess, Secretary, Public Service Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350.

Toll-Free Opinion Line: Commenters also 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. Comments provided through the Toll-Free Opinion Line are not transcribed, but a summary is provided to the ALJs and to the Commission for their consideration.

Written comments received by the Department will become part of the record considered by the Commission. Written comments may be viewed online (go to www.dps.ny.gov, click on “Search,” search using case number “19-G-0309” and then click on the “Public Comments” tab).