HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-Hearings-gas-electric-ratesIn May 2015, New York State Electric & Gas Corporation (NYSEG) and Rochester Gas & Electric
Corporation (RGE) requested the New York State Public Service Commission (Commission or
PSC) to approve proposed increases to electric and gas delivery rates.
The parties to the proceeding entered into negotiations in October 2015 and on February 19, 2016,
a Joint Proposal (JP) was filed by NYSEG and RGE (the Companies) that proposed to resolve all
matters relating to their rate requests. In addition to the Companies, the JP was signed by seven
parties representing different interests, including Staff of the Department of Public Service (DPS).
The JP, if adopted, would apply to the Companies' electric and gas rates and services through April
30, 2019 and would result in a revenue increase for the Companies.
PSC Seeking Public Comment
The Commission is seeking comment on the JP. Assigned Administrative Law Judges will preside
over the gathering of public comments and all evidence relating to the proposal. The JP and formal
record, including public comments, will be presented to the Commission for consideration. The
Commission may adopt or reject the JP in whole or in part.
Interested members of the public are invited to attend a series of public statement hearings and
provide comments regarding the proposal. The hearings are being held as follows:
-Date
Tuesday, March 29
Wednesday, March 30
Thursday, March 31
Wednesday, April 13
Location,
Binghamton City Hall
Council Chambers
38 Hawley St.
Binghamton, NY
City of Rochester
Council Chambers
30 Church St., Room 300A
Rochester, NY
Town of Plattsburgh
Town Hall
151 Banker Road
Plattsburgh, NY
Town of Southeast
Town Hall
1360 Route 22
Brewster, NY
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Afternoon Hearing: 3:00 PM
Evening Hearing: 7:00 PM
Afternoon Hearing: 3:00 PM
Evening Hearing: 7:00 PM
Afternoon Hearing: 3:00 PM
Evening Hearing: 7:00 PM
Afternoon Hearing: 3:00 PM
Evening Hearing: 7:00 PM
Three Empire State Plaza Albany, NY 12223 s 1-888-As.kPSCS • °a-= � .: t '.^c:. T
It is not necessary to make an appointment in advance or present written material in order to speak
at the hearings. All comments given at the hearings will be transcribed and become part of the
Commission's formal record. The hearings will remain open until everyone wishing to speak has
been heard or other reasonable arrangements have been made.
Disabled persons requiring special accommodations should contact the DPS 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 factsheet.
Summary of the Joint Proposal
Under the JP, a set of terms and conditions were developed for a three-year rate plan for the
Companies electric and gas service. The three-year plan is proposed to become effective May 1,
2016 with the Rate Year 1 ending on April 30, 2017, Rate Year 2 ending on April 30, 2018 and
Rate Year 3 ending April 30, 2019.
Proposed Rates:
NYSEG:
For NYSEG; the JP proposes phased in rate increases for both electric and gas delivery service
to levelize the rate impact over the three-year period. The proposal would produce annual
delivery rate increases of 4.1 % for electric customers and 7.3% for gas customers. These
increases would result in an average overall (i.e. both commodity and delivery) bill increases for
customers of approximately 2.7% for electric and 4.1 % for gas.
RGE:
For RGE, the JP proposes rate increases that vary by rate year for both electric and gas delivery
service. The chart below shows the proposed increases to delivery rates as well as the average
overall bill impact for each rate year.
NYSEG Electric
RGE"Electric
NYSEG 0619
Rate
Delivery Rate
Average Bill
Rate
Delivery Rate
Average Bill
Increase
Increase
increase
Increase
Increase
Increase
($000)
(%)
(%)
($000)
(%)
(%)
RY 1 $29,601
4.1%
2.7%
$13,068
I 7.3%
4.1%
RY 2 $29,889
4.1%
2.7%
$13,880
7.3%
4.1%
RY 3 $30,297
I 4.1%
2.7%
$14,796
I 7.3%
4.1%
RGE:
For RGE, the JP proposes rate increases that vary by rate year for both electric and gas delivery
service. The chart below shows the proposed increases to delivery rates as well as the average
overall bill impact for each rate year.
The actual bill impacts for NYSEG and RGE customers will vary by customer class based upon
revenue allocations and rate design.
RGE"Electric
Rate
Delivery Rate
Average Bill
Rate
Delivery Rate
Average Bill
Increase
Increase
Increase
Increase
Increase
Increase
($000)
(%)
(%)
($000)
(%)
(%)
RY 1
$3,000
0.7%
.5%
$8,819
5.2%
2.8%
RY 2
$21,600
5.0%
3.4%
$7,661
4.4%
2.4%
RY 3
$25,856
5.7%
MID%
$9,455
5.2%
2.9%
The actual bill impacts for NYSEG and RGE customers will vary by customer class based upon
revenue allocations and rate design.
Additional JP Components:
The JP includes other terms that may affect customers, including:
• acceleration of the Companies' natural gas leak prone main replacement programs;
• electric vegetation management practices to provide continued safe and reliable service;
• implementation of an Energy Smart Community Project in the Ithaca region to test
Reforming the Energy Vision initiatives;
• neighborhood and community gas expansion programs; and
• an expansion of the Companies' Low Income Programs.
The full text of the JP, including a breakdown of expected bill impacts by customer class, may be
viewed online at DPS's www.dps.nv.aov website. From the homepage, click on "Search," and
enter any of the case numbers (NYSEG electric: 15-E-0283, NYSEG gas: 15-G-0284, RGE
electric: 15-E-0285 or RGE gas: 15-G-0286) in the "Search by Case Number" field.
Additional Methods for Commenting on the Case
In addition to providing comments at public statement hearings, members of the public may also
provide comments for the Commission's consideration as follows:
• Via Mail/E-Mail: Submit comments electronically to Kathleen H. Burgess, Secretary, at
secretary@dps.ny.gov or by mail or delivery to Secretary Burgess at the Department of Public
Service, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350. Comments delivered in
these manners should reference the associated case number (NYSEG electric: 15-E-0283,
NYSEG gas: 15-G-0284, RG&E electric: 15-E-0285 or RG&E gas: 15-G-0286).
• Via the Department's Website: Comments may also be entered directly into the case by
locating the case via the home page of the Commission's website, www.dps.nv.aov. by
clicking on "Search," and entering the associated case number (noted above) in the "Search
by Case Number" field. After clicking to open the case, enter comments in the "Post
Comments" section located at the top of the page.
• Via Toll -Free Opinion Line: Individuals may choose to submit comments by calling the
Commission's toll-free Opinion Line at 1-800-335-2120. This line is set up to receive in-state
calls 24 -hours a day. Callers should press "1" to leave comments about Case 15-E-0283, 15-
G-0284, 15-E-0285 or 15-G-0286 "Joint Petition of New York State Electric & Gas Corporation
and Rochester Gas & Electric Corporation". Comments received via the Opinion Line are not
transcribed, but a summary is provided to the Commission for their consideration.
All comments will become part of the record considered by the Commission. Comments will be
accepted at any point while this proceeding is pending, but are requested by April 20, 2016 to
ensure full consideration.
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