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For Immediate Release: 09/05/2023 Rory M. Christian, Chair Contact:
James Denn | James.Denn@dps.ny.gov | (518) 474-7080 23086 / 23-E-0418; 23-G-0419 September 05, 2023
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Virtual Public Statement Hearings Set Regarding Proposed Changes to Central Hudson’s Electric and Gas Delivery Rates |
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ALBANY — The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) will hold virtual public statement hearings on Tuesday, September 12, and Wednesday, September 20, 2023, concerning proposed changes in the electric and gas delivery rates of Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation. On July 31, 2023, Central Hudson filed amendments to its electric and gas tariff schedules, proposing to increase its annual electric and gas delivery revenues effective July 1, 2024. Central Hudson proposes to increase its electric delivery revenues by approximately $139.5 million (a 31.9 percent increase in base delivery revenues or a 16.4 percent increase in total revenues), and its natural gas delivery revenues by approximately $41.5 million (a 29.2 percent increase in base delivery revenues or a 19 percent increase in total revenues). The actual bill impacts of these proposed changes on any particular customer class will vary based upon revenue allocation and rate design.
Central Hudson states that its rate filings include proposals to: ensure safe, reliable, and resilient electric and gas systems; provide energy efficiency incentives and services in support of New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act goals and targets; effectively respond to major storms and extreme weather events, invest in grid modernization to restore power more quickly, and timely recover storm costs; maintain affordability, mitigate customer bill impacts, and upgrade technologies to improve the customer experience; and support workforce growth.
For its electric business, Central Hudson states that major drivers of the rate increase are related to capital investments associated with replacing aging infrastructure; increased labor expenses; continued and enhanced low income, energy efficiency, and heat pump programs; increased capitalization and financing costs; and recovery of costs associated with major storms and extreme weather. For its gas business, Central Hudson states that rate increase are attributable to continued and enhanced low income and energy efficiency programs; increased capital investment to eliminate leak prone pipe; labor expense; and capitalization and financing costs.
Central Hudson’s pre-filed testimony and exhibits in these proceedings may be reviewed online at the Department of Public Service website, www.dps.ny.gov, by clicking on “File Search” (located under the heading “Commission Files”) and entering the case number (23-E-0418 or 23-G-0419) in the box labelled “Search by Case Number.” Under New York State law, the Commission must consider a utility's rate proposal and may adopt or reject it, in whole or in part, or modify it. In doing so, the Commission will consider changes proposed by 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. Public statement hearings will be held over two days to obtain comments from the public concerning Central Hudson’s proposals. In-person hearings will be scheduled at a later date.
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that virtual public statement hearings will be held before ALJs James A. Costello and Ashley Moreno, as follows:
Those wishing to comment on any aspect of these proceedings will have the opportunity to make a statement on the record at the virtual public statement hearings. Any person wishing to provide a public statement must register in advance of the hearing.
To register electronically: Participants who would like to provide a statement and will log in to a hearing electronically, must register to do so by clicking on https://signin.webex.com/join by 4:30 p.m. on the day before the hearing. Registrants should enter the appropriate meeting number for the hearing, click “Register” underneath the enter the webinar password box, click “Register” in the box to the right, and provide all requested information. When logging in to a hearing on the appropriate date and time of the hearing, participants should click on https://signin.webex.com/join, enter the appropriate meeting number for the hearing, and input the appropriate webinar password listed above. 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 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 4:30 p.m. on the day before the hearing 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, all call-in users should dial 1-518-549-0500 and enter the relevant access code and phone-in password 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 the hearings will be made for inclusion in the record of these cases.
To listen to the hearings: Any person who would like to listen to the hearings but would not like to make a statement may access the hearings without registering. 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 1-518-549-0500 and entering the applicable access code and phone-in password. Persons with disabilities requiring special accommodations should call the Department of Public Service’s Human Resources Management Office at 1-518-474-2520 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.
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-E-0418 and Case 23-G-0419 – Central Hudson.” Although comments will be accepted throughout the pendency of these proceedings, they are requested by September 29, 2023.
Internet or Mail: Go to www.dps.ny.gov, click on “File Search” (located under the heading “Commission Files”), enter the case number (23-E-0418 or 23-G-0419) in the box labelled “Search by Case Number,” and then click on “Post Comments” located at the top right of the page. Alternatively, comments may be mailed to the Hon. Michelle L. Phillips, Secretary, 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 numbers, as described above, and clicking on the “Public Comments” tab.
Toll-Free Opinion Line: Individuals may choose to submit comments by calling the Commission’s Opinion Line at 1-800-335-2120. This number is set up to receive in-state calls 24-hours a day. These calls are not transcribed verbatim, but a summary is provided to the Commission.
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