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STATE OF NEW YORKPublic Service Commission Audrey Zibelman, ChairThree Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12223
Further Details: James Denn
James.denn@dps.ny.gov | 518.474.7080
15002/14-M-0101 January 07, 2015
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PSC SEEKS PUBLIC INPUT ON ENERGY REGULATORY REFORM INITIATIVE |
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Albany, NY— To ensure full public participation in its regulatory reform efforts, the New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) announced today that it will conduct a series of informational forums and public statement hearings across the State to seek public input and comment on the Commission’s regulatory component of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s overall strategic energy plan, Reforming the Energy Vision, or REV. On April 25, 2014, the Commission instituted the REV regulatory proceeding as part of Governor Cuomo’s REV strategic energy plan to align electric utility practices and the Commission's regulatory paradigm with technological advances that have created alternatives to traditional solutions to meeting electricity demand. Specifically, the Commission is considering a new business model for energy service providers where distributed energy resources becomes a primary tool in the planning and operation of the electric system. The Commission identified six policy objectives supporting the REV effort: to enhance customer knowledge and tools to enable customers to manage their energy bills and provide them more choice in how they use energy; to animate the market and leverage ratepayer contributions; to promote system-wide efficiency; to increase fuel and resource diversity; to enhance system reliability and resiliency; and to reduce carbon emissions. The REV regulatory proceeding involves two tracks. The first track, which has been the subject of two publicly held technical conferences and one publicly held symposium, and now the subject of the public statement hearings, explores the role of distribution utilities in enabling system-wide efficiencies and market-based deployment of DER and load management. The first track will also consider the role of the incumbent electric utilities and whether they should serve as the Distributed System Platform (DSP) provider, the entity that will manage and coordinate DER, as well as wholesale market issues and opportunities for customer engagement. The second track will address the regulatory changes and ratemaking issues that will be necessary to implement the REV vision. A staff straw proposal on second track issues is expected to be issued in the second quarter of 2015. On August 22, 2014, staff issued a straw proposal that included numerous recommendations for the Commission to consider in this proceeding including, the identity of the DSP, the extent to which electric utilities will be permitted to engage in the DER market, access to customer data and utility energy efficiency programs. The Commission now seeks further public comment on the first track issues. Public Statement Hearings The public will have an opportunity to present comments at hearings before an Administrative Law Judge assigned by the Commission to hear this case. A verbatim transcript of the hearings will be made for inclusion in the record of the proceeding. In the hour prior to each public statement hearing, Commission staff will present an information session on what the REV initiative means for customers and be available to answer questions. The information sessions will be immediately followed by public statement hearings where all those wishing to comment on REV and the straw proposal will have an opportunity to make a statement on the record. The informational forums and public statement hearings will be held as follows:
SYRACUSE WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015 The Oncenter 800 South State Street Syracuse, New York 13202 Information Session 6:00 PM Public Statement Hearing 7:00 PM
BUFFALO THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 2015 Buffalo Central Library 1 Lafayette Square Buffalo, New York 14203 Information Session 3:00 PM Public Statement Hearing 4:00 PM Information Session 6:00 PM Public Statement Hearing 7:00 PM NEW YORK CITY TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2015 Borough of Manhattan Community College 199 Chambers Street New York, New York 10007 Information Session 3:00 PM Public Statement Hearing 4:00 PM Information Session 6:00 PM Public Statement Hearing 7:00 PM
KINGSTON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2015 Council Chambers City Hall 420 Broadway Kingston, New York 12401 Information Session 6:00 PM Public Statement Hearing 7:00 PM
ALBANY THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015 State University of New York at Albany Page Hall 135 Western Avenue Albany, New York 12203 Information Session 6:00 PM Public Statement Hearing 7:00 PM
It is not necessary to be present at the start of the hearing, to make an appointment in advance, or to present written material to speak at the hearing. Persons will be called to speak after completing a request card. Each public statement hearing will continue until everyone wishing to speak has been heard or other reasonable arrangements have been made. Disabled persons requiring special accommodations should call 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. 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. The staff straw proposal may be reviewed online by searching the case number (14-M-0101) on the Commission's website, www.dps.ny.gov, and by selecting the document titled "Developing the REV Market in New York: DPS Staff Straw Proposal on Track One Issues" filed on August 22, 2014. Public comment will be accepted throughout the proceeding, but parties are encouraged to comment on Track One policy issues at one of the public statement hearings, or by other means, described below, prior to February 10, 2015. All comments will become part of the record considered by the Commission. Other Ways to Comment Internet or Mail: In addition speaking at the formal hearings, members of the public desiring to comment may submit written comments by sending them electronically to the Secretary at secretary@dps.ny.gov or by mail or delivery to Hon. Kathleen H. Burgess, Secretary, Public Service Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350. Comments should refer to "Case 14-M-0101 Reforming the Energy Vision." 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 for the cases referenced above. These comments are not transcribed but are summarized, with the summary reported to the Administrative Law Judge and the Commission. Comments will be accepted throughout the pendency of this proceeding. Written comments will become part of the record considered by the Commission. Written comments may be accessed on the Commission’s website by searching Case 14-M-0101 in the input box labeled "Search for Case/Matter Number") and clicking on the “Public Comments” tab. Many libraries offer free Internet access. |
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