ALBANY — The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) today announced it was seeking public comment on a gas rates joint proposal filed on March 7, 2017, by staff of the Department of Public Service, Corning Natural Gas Corporation (Corning), and other stakeholders. The proposal recommends a rate plan that would begin June 1, 2017, and extend for three consecutive years (the 12 months ending May 31, 2018, 2019, and 2020). If approved, Corning’s base rates for delivery service would increase by approximately $2.1 million in the first year, $1.6 million in second year, and $1.6 million in the third year.

The proposed rate increase for the first year is higher than amounts shown for second and third year because certain amounts currently recovered through surcharges would be rolled into base rates at the beginning in the first rate year. Surcharge revenues of approximately $640,000 per year would no longer be collected after December 31, 2018.

In each of the three rate years, the total bill for an average residential customer (including delivery service and applicable surcharges, plus natural gas) would increase by approximately 9.5 percent, 8.25 percent and 6.8 percent. The minimum monthly charges for all customers would remain at their current levels. The Commission may adopt the proposal in whole or part, or adopt alternative terms. The public is encouraged to provide comments on the proposal at a public statement hearing to be held as follows:

Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Corning Community College, The Commons Building – Triangle Lounge
1 Academic Drive, Corning NY 14830

1:00 pm

The purpose of the public statement hearing is to allow interested members of the public to provide their views personally before an Administrative Law Judge assigned by the Commission to this case. A verbatim transcript of the hearing will be made for inclusion in the record of the proceeding. The full text of the proposal, including expected bill impacts for all customers, along with the other filings in this proceeding may be viewed, printed or downloaded from the Commission's website, http://www.dps.ny.gov, by clicking “Search” on the homepage and entering case “16-G-0369.”

It is not necessary to make an appointment in advance in order to speak. Persons interested in speaking will be asked to complete a card requesting time to speak when they arrive at the hearing, and will be called in the order in which the cards are received. Speakers are not required to provide written copies of their comments. The public statement hearing will be kept open for a minimum of 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.

Disabled persons 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 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 service regarding this notice.

Other Ways to Comment

Those who cannot attend or prefer not to speak at a public statement hearing may comment through the following methods, all comments should refer to “16-G-0369 – Corning Natural Gas Corporation - Gas Rates.”

Internet or Mail: Go to http://www.dps.ny.gov, click on “Search,” enter the case number (16-G-0369), and then click on “Post Comments” at the top of the page; or e-mail comments to the Secretary to 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. Press "1" to leave comments, mentioning “Case 16-G-0369, Corning Gas Rates.” These comments are not transcribed verbatim, but a summary is provided to the Commission.