ALBANY — The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) today announced it would hold informational forums and public statement hearings in White Plains to receive comments regarding the establishment of a consumer awareness campaign to encourage the installation of renewable energy and energy efficiency resources in Westchester County.

The 2019 New York State Budget included a provision which requires the Commission, by June 30, 2019, and in consultation with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), to establish a program to encourage the installation of renewable energy resources and energy efficiencies in Westchester County. In furtherance of that effort, the Commission requested that NYSERDA file a description of the proposed consumer awareness campaign and sustainable and clean energy workshop program, including a description of coordination with Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc., and Westchester County. On May 24, 2019 NYSERDA filed its program, NYSERDA Westchester Clean Energy Awareness and Workshop Proposal.

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

Wednesday, June 19, 2019

White Plains Public Library
Auditorium
100 Martine Ave
White Plains, NY 10601

2:30 p.m. & 6:30pm - Information Sessions
3:00 p.m. & 7:00pm - Public Statement Hearings

During the scheduled informational forums, Department of Public Service Staff representatives will give a short presentation on the review process in this case.

Those wishing to comment on the consumer awareness campaign will have the opportunity to make a statement on the record at the public statement hearings following the information sessions. To speak at the hearing, it is not necessary to make an appointment in advance or present written material. Persons will be called to speak after completing a request card. Each public statement hearing will be held open for a minimum of 30 minutes and will be kept open until everyone wishing to speak has been heard or other reasonable arrangements have been made to include their comments in the record. Reasonable time limits may be set for each speaker as necessary to afford all attendees an opportunity to be heard. It is recommended that lengthy comments be submitted in writing and summarized for oral presentation. A verbatim transcript of each hearing will be made for inclusion in the record of this proceeding.

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 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 this case to the Commission. Comments should refer to “Case 19-M-0265 – Westchester Consumer Awareness Campaign.”

Internet or Mail: Go to www.dps.ny.gov, click on “Search,” search using case number “Case 19-M-0265” and then click the “Post Comments” button at the top of the page; or send comments to the Secretary for the Commission at secretary@dps.ny.gov. Alternatively, comments may be mailed or delivered to Hon. Kathleen H. Burgess, Secretary, Public Service Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350.

Toll-Free Opinion Line: You 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. These comments are not transcribed verbatim, but a summary is provided to the Commission.

All comments regarding the proposed consumer awareness campaign and workshops should be submitted by June 24, 2019. 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 the case number and then click on the “Public Comments” tab). Many libraries offer free Internet access.