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For Immediate Release: 11/1/17
John B. Rhodes, Chair
Contact: James Denn | Jame.Denn@dps.ny.gov | (518) 474-7080
17084/17-W-0528
November 01, 2017
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Public Statement Hearings Scheduled for SUEZ Water Owego-Nichols, Inc.Comments Sought on New Rate |
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ALBANY — The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) today announced it will be holding public statement hearings and seeking public comment concerning a proposal by SUEZ Water Owego-Nichols, Inc. (SUEZ Owego-Nichols) to increase its water rates.
On August 25, 2017, SUEZ Owego-Nichols filed proposed tariffs that would produce an annual base revenue increase of approximately $600,000, or 33.4%. The requested increase in revenues would result in a monthly bill increase of $12.08, or 40.4%, for an average residential customer using 5 CCF, or about 3,740 gallons, per month. Included in the company’s proposals are increases in capital investment in water infrastructure, depreciation expense, income taxes, and projected declining sales revenues. The Commission may adopt or reject the company’s proposals, in whole or in part, or modify them.
Public Statement Hearings
In order 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, representatives of SUEZ Owego-Nichols will provide a brief overview of the company’s rate proposals. In addition, an Administrative Law Judge will provide a brief overview of the rate case process. These presentations will be followed by a brief opportunity for questions and answers. Each information session will conclude at least five minutes before the public statement hearing is scheduled to commence.
The information sessions and public statement hearings will be held as follows:
Wednesday, November 8, 2017
The Hubbard Auditorium Ronald E. Dougherty County Office Building 56 Main Street Owego, New York 13827 Information Sessions: 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Public Statement Hearings: 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. At the public statement hearings, interested members of the public may provide their views personally before an Administrative Law Judge. A verbatim transcript of the hearings will be made for inclusion in the record of the proceeding. It is not necessary to make an appointment in advance in order to speak. Persons will be called to speak after completing a participation card. Speakers need not provide written copies of their comments. The hearings will be kept open for at least one hour, and will continue until everyone wishing to speak has been heard or other reasonable arrangements have been made to include their comments in the record.
Persons with disabilities requiring special accommodations should contact the Department of Public Service's Human Resource 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 (518) 474-2520 number. Individuals with difficulty understanding or reading English 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 provide your comments to the Commission. Comments should refer to "Case 17-W-0528 – SUEZ Water Owego-Nichols Rate Case.”
Commission Website: Comments may be entered directly into the case file via the Commission’s website, at www.dps.ny.gov. At the home page, click on “Search” and enter the case number, 17-W-0528. This will bring you to the web page maintained for this individual case. To offer your comments click on the “Post Comments” button at the top of the page and input your comments using the form provided. E-mail or Mail: Comments may also be sent via e-mail to Hon. Kathleen H. Burgess, Secretary, at secretary@dps.ny.gov, or by mail or delivery to the Secretary at Public Service Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany NY 12223-1350.
Toll-Free Opinion Line: Individuals may submit comments using 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. Press "2" to leave comments, specifying “Case 17-W-0528 – SUEZ Water Owego-Nichols Rate Case.” Telephonic comments are not transcribed verbatim, but a summary is provided to the administrative law judge who will report to the Commission.
Public comments provided through these alternative methods are requested by December 1, 2017. All written comments will become part of the record and will be reported to the Commission for its consideration. All written comments may be accessed on the Commission's website at www.dps.ny.gov. Click the “Search” button on the home page and then enter “17-W-0528” in the space provided for searching by case number; then view the “Public Comments” tab.
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