ALBANY — The New York State Department of Public Service (Department) today announced that it will hold two virtual public statement hearings on Monday, October 3, 2022, to receive public comments on the audit scope of the upcoming Management and Operations Audit of the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) and its Service Provider, PSEG Long Island LLC (PSEG LI). 

The comprehensive management and operations audit is mandated by the LIPA Reform Act to ensure ongoing improvement of the management and operations of Long Island’s electric grid operator. The audit will review and evaluate the overall operations and management of LIPA and PSEG LI with the ultimate goal of improving existing processes, practices, systems, and organizational structures to drive better performance. 

The audit will evaluate PSEG LI’s construction and capital program planning as it relates to the needs of customers for reliable service, the overall efficiency of LIPA and PSEG LI’s operations, the manner in which LIPA is meeting its debt service obligations, LIPA’s Fuel and Purchased Power Cost Adjustment clause, LIPA and PSEG LI’s annual Budgeting process, Enterprise Risk Management and Corporate Governance, Climate Leadership & Community Protection Act, Cyber Security and System Design & Performance, and the Implementation of recommendations from the prior audit. Public comments will further inform the issues examined in the audit as defined by these scope areas. 

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that two virtual public statement hearings will be held at the below date and times to solicit input and ensure full participation from the public within LIPA’s service territory. Members of the public are invited to attend the virtual public statement hearings and provide their comments concerning the scope of the management and operations audit of LIPA and PSEG LI. The virtual public statement hearings will be held as follows:  

Any person wishing to provide a public statement at the hearings must pre-register by 3:00 p.m. on Friday, September 30, 2022. 

To register electronically: Participants who would like to provide a statement and will log in to the hearing electronically may register to do so by visiting www.webex.com, where they should click “Join” at the top right-hand corner of the screen, enter the event number listed above, and provide all requested information. 

When logging in to the hearing on the appropriate date and time, participants will be asked to “select audio system.” It is recommended that participants opt to have the system “call me” or “call using computer.” The “call me” option will require that participants enter their phone numbers. 

To register by phone: Any participant who is not able to log in to the hearing electronically may participate by phone. Call-in participants wishing to provide a statement must register to do so in advance by calling 1-800-342-3330 by the date and time noted above, where they should follow prompts to the appropriate hearing and provide the following information: first and last name, address, and phone number. 

On the dates and times of the hearings, all call-in users should dial 518-549-0500 and enter the access code listed above. 

The public statement hearings will be held open until everyone who has registered to speak has been heard or other reasonable arrangements to submit comments into the record have been made. Time limits may be set for each speaker, as necessary. It is also recommended that lengthy comments be submitted in writing and summarized for oral presentation. A verbatim transcript of the public statement hearing will be made for inclusion in the record of this case. 

Persons with disabilities 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 Department at 1-800-342-3377 for free language assistance services regarding this notice. 

Other Ways to Comment

All comments should be provided to the Department of Public Service by October 14, 2022. For those who cannot attend or prefer not to speak at a public statement hearing, there are several other ways to send comments to the Department. Comments should refer to "Matter No. 21-00618 — LIPA and PSEG LI Management & Operations Audit." 

Via the Internet or Mail: The public may enter comments directly into the case file from the Department of Public Service’s website, www.dps.ny.gov, by clicking on "Search" at the top of the page and then entering “21-00618” into the “Search by Case Number” field. In the open matter, access the screen to enter comments by clicking on the "Post Comments" box at the top right of the page. 

Comments may also be submitted electronically to the Honorable Michelle L. Phillips, Secretary, at secretary@dps.ny.gov, or by mail to Secretary Philips at the New York State Department of Public Service, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12223-1350. All written comments will become part of the record considered by the Department and can be read on the website by searching by the matter number, as described above, and clicking on the “Public Comments” tab.  Many libraries offer free Internet access. 

Toll-Free Opinion Line: Individuals may choose to submit comments by calling the Department’s Opinion Line at 1-800-335-2120. Callers should reference “Matter No. 21-00618 — LIPA and PSEG LI Management & Operations Audit.” This line is set up to receive in-state calls 24 hours a day. These calls are not transcribed verbatim, but a summary will be reported to the Department.