ALBANY — The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) today announced it would hold informational forums and public statement hearings in Rochester, Keene Valley, Ithaca and Binghamton to receive comments on changes proposed by the New York State Electric & Gas Corporation (NYSEG) and the Rochester Gas and Electric Corporation (RG&E) (the companies) to their electric and gas delivery rates and practices. On May 20, 2019, the companies filed new electric and gas tariff schedules, intended to take effect in April 2020.

Under New York State Law, the Commission may adopt, reject, or modify, in whole or in part, the companies’ 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. To provide individuals with information in advance of the public statement hearings, information sessions will be conducted during the hour preceding the public statement hearings. During these sessions, the ALJs will provide a brief overview of the rate case process and NYSEG/RG&E representatives will provide a brief overview of their rate proposals. These presentations will be followed by a brief opportunity for questions. Each information session will conclude at least five minutes before the public statement hearing is scheduled to commence.

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

NYSEG proposes to increase its annual electric delivery revenues by approximately $156.7 million (an increase of 20.4 percent in electric delivery revenues and 10.4 percent in total revenues); and it proposes to increase its annual gas delivery revenues by approximately $6.3 million (an increase of 3 percent in gas delivery revenues and 1.4 percent in total revenues). RG&E proposes to increase its annual electric delivery revenues by approximately $31.7 million (an increase of 7 percent in electric delivery revenues and 4.1 percent in total revenues); and it proposes to increase its annual gas revenues by approximately $5.8 million (an increase of 3.3 percent in gas delivery revenues and 1.4 percent in total revenues).

According to the companies, vegetation management is the largest driver for the requested electric rate increase for NYSEG. RG&E’s electric rate increases are driven by increases in operating expenses, depreciation and infrastructure investments. The gas delivery rate increases at the companies are primarily associated with depreciation, infrastructure investments, and increases to operation and maintenance expenses. Although the actual bill impacts of these proposed changes on any particular customer class will vary based upon revenue allocation and rate design, NYSEG projects that total average residential monthly electric bills will increase by approximately $10.17 and that total average residential monthly gas bills will increase by $1.05. RG&E projects that total average residential monthly electric bills will increase by approximately $2.86 and that total average residential gas bills will increase by $1.56.

At the public statement hearings, those wishing to comment on the companies’ 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 one or more of the following cases: "Case 19-E-0378" (NYSEG electric rates); "Case 19-G-0379" (NYSEG gas rates); "Case 19-E-0380" (RG&E electric rates); or "Case 19-G-0381" (RG&E gas rates).

Internet or Email: Go to www.dps.ny.gov, click on “Search,” enter the applicable case number (19-E-0378, 19-G-0379, 19-E-0380, or 19-G-0381) 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 its consideration.