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For Immediate Release: 5/3/2023 Rory M. Christian, Chair Contact:
James Denn | James.Denn@dps.ny.gov | (518) 474-7080
23047 / 23-W-0111 May 03, 2023
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Virtual Public Statement Hearings Set Regarding Veolia Water Rate Case |
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ALBANY — The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) will hold virtual public statement hearings on Wednesday, May 10, and Wednesday, May 17, 2023, concerning proposed changes in the water delivery rates and practices of Veolia Water New York, Inc. More specifically, the company seeks to consolidate rates for customers in the former SUEZ Water New York, Inc. system (Orange and Rockland counties), the former SUEZ Owego-Nichols system and the Heritage Hills system, and continue progressing towards harmonization of rates in rate districts of the former SUEZ Water Westchester system. The company proposes to increase its delivery revenues by approximately $18.4 million (14.1 percent) in Orange and Rockland counties and by $14.1 million (16.8%) in the Westchester district. The company maintains that these changes are necessary due to recent increases in various costs outside of its control, and to ensure that it can continue to deliver safe, adequate, and reliable water service. The actual bill impacts of the proposed changes on any particular customer class will vary based on revenue allocation and rate design.
The company’s pre-filed testimony and exhibits may be reviewed online at the Department of Public Service web page, www.dps.ny.gov, by searching under Case 23-W-0111.
Under New York State law, the Commission must consider a utility's proposal and may adopt or reject it, in whole or in part, or modify it. In doing so, the Commission will consider input from the participating parties and general public. Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) are presiding over the gathering of public comments and all evidence relating to the proposal. As indicated below, public statement hearings will be held over two days to obtain comments from the public concerning the company’s proposals.
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that virtual public statement hearings will be held before ALJs Michael Clarke and Ashley Moreno, as follows:
Those wishing to comment on any aspect of this proceeding at a virtual public statement hearing must register to do so.
To register and provide a statement electronically: Participants who would like to provide a statement and will log in to a hearing electronically may register to do so by visiting www.webex.com by 4:30 p.m. Monday, May 8, 2023, for the May 10 hearings, and by 4:30 p.m. Monday, May 15, 2023, for the May 17 hearings. From the Webex homepage, registrants should click “Join a Meeting” at the top right-hand corner of the screen, enter the appropriate meeting number listed above, click “Register” (it is not necessary to add the webinar password for registration), and provide all requested information. When logging in to a hearing on the appropriate date and time of the hearing, participants should visit www.webex.com, click “Join a Meeting” at the top right-hand corner of the screen, and input the appropriate meeting number and password for the hearing. 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 participants to enter their phone numbers.
To register and provide a statement by phone: Any participant who is not able to log in to a hearing electronically may participate by phone. Call-in participants wishing to make a statement at a hearing must register to do so by the deadlines indicated above by calling 1-800-342-3330, where they should follow prompts to the appropriate hearing and provide the following information: first name and last name, address, and phone number. On the appropriate day and time of the hearing, participants should dial (518) 549-0500 and enter the relevant access code listed above to join the hearing. All participants will be muted upon entry into the hearing. The ALJs will call on each person who has registered to speak. The ALJs will continue the hearing until everyone wishing to speak has been heard or other reasonable arrangements have been made to include their comments in the record. 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 case.
To listen to the hearings: Registration is not required for any person who wants to listen to a hearing but does not intend to make a statement at that hearing. The hearings will be livestreamed on the internet and available for viewing on the Department of Public Service’s YouTube channel on the dates and times listed above. To access the YouTube channel, visit the Department’s website, www.dps.ny.gov, and click on the YouTube icon at the bottom of the homepage. In addition, any person without internet access may listen to the hearings by phone by calling (518) 549-0500 and entering the applicable access code.
Persons with disabilities requiring reasonable accommodations should call the Department of Public Service’s Human Resources 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 provide your comments to the Commission. Comments should refer to “Case 23-W-0111 – Veolia Rates.” Although comments will be accepted throughout the pendency of this proceeding, they are requested by June 19, 2023.
Internet or Mail: Go to www.dps.ny.gov, click on “File Search” (located under the “Commission Files” heading), enter “23-W-0111” in the “Search by Case Number” field, and then click on “Post Comments” at the top of the page. Alternatively, comments may be mailed to the Hon. Michelle L. Phillips, Secretary, New York State Public Service Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York, 12223- 1350. All written comments will become part of the record considered by the Commission and may be accessed on the Department of Public Service website by searching the case number, as described above, and clicking on the “Public Comments” tab.
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 calls are not transcribed verbatim, but a summary is provided to the Commission.
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