Town supervisors schedule forum on O&R’s rate hike request
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- May
- 21
Here’s more information about a forum the Rockland County Town Supervisors’ Association plans to hold next month:
ORANGEBURG — Rockland’s five town supervisors will hold a forum to allow residents to comment on Orange and Rockland Utilities Inc.’s proposal to increase its rates after the state said it would not hold public hearings.
Meanwhile, O&R said it wanted to discuss the hearings with the state Public Service Commission due to public concern.
“Based on the growing public sentiment, we intend to speak to the PSC about their position on this issue,” O&R spokesman Michael Donovan said.
Orangetown town Supervisor Thom Kleiner, chairman of the Rockland County Town Supervisors’ Association, said the June 15 forum would be held because the PSC “is refusing to hold a public hearing on the proposed rate hike, denying Rocklanders a public forum in which they can express their views on O&R’s efforts to increase ratepayer costs, as has been done in the past.” 
O&R wants approval from the PSC, which oversees most utilities in New York, to increase the amount of money it charges to deliver natural gas.
The company’s proposal would raise the typical monthly delivery charge by $12.05, or 5.44 percent, for an overall annual increase of $144.60.
The new rate would take effect Nov. 1, but the company has proposed phasing in the increase over a three-year period, from 2009 to 2011.
The PSC told The Journal News May 13 that it would only accept comments submitted online, by mail or via the commission’s opinion line. A public input session, a previous custom, will not be held, the PSC said.
Kleiner said the PSC had an obligation to respond to the public, whether it was through a formal public hearing conducted by the commission, or the one that will be facilitated by elected officials.
He said transcripts would be provided to O&R and the PSC. O&R has been invited to participate and PSC will also be asked to attend, Kleiner said.
PSC spokeswoman Anne Dillon said yesterday that the commission would accept the transcripts.
Ramapo Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence has intervened in the case and has been critical of O&R’s request, which includes money for the hiring of 23 new workers and to help O&R close a $1.9 million gap in its pension plan, which has suffered because of the economic downturn.
He has also accused the company of seeking too much profit for itself and its shareholders at the expense of ratepayers.
Donovan has said PSC law allowed companies to address their pension plans and to cover new job hires as part of a revenue increase request.
He declined to comment on the profit issue, saying it was part of confidential negotiations now going on regarding a possible settlement of the case.
St. Lawrence said that he had also written to request the PSC hold a formal public input session, and that he also supported the public forum.
GET DETAILS ON THE FORUM AND O&R’S PROPOSAL, INCLUDING HOW TO SUBMIT COMMENT, BELOW.
FORUM
The Rockland County Town Supervisors’ Association will hold a forum at 7:45 p.m. June 15 at Orangetown Town Hall, 26 Orangeburg Road, to allow residents to comment on Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc.’s proposal to increase its gas delivery charge.
RATE HIKE REQUEST
Orange and Rockland Utilities Inc. seeks to increase rates
Under the plan, the monthly delivery charge for O&R customers would rise by $12.06, or 5.44 percent, from $221.37 to $233.43. The overall increase for the year would be $144.60.
Case documents can be viewed at www.dps.state.ny.us. Click on “commission documents.” Enter 08-G-1398 in the “Search for case/matter” box. Turn off pop-up blockers to open the documents.
The deadline for submitting comment is July 30. All comments should include the line, “Case 08-G-1398 — Orange and Rockland Utilities Inc. — Gas Rates.”
• Call the PSC Opinion Line at 800-335-2120.
• Visit www.askpsc.com to submit e-mail.
• Mail written comment to Jaclyn A. Brilling, Secretary, Public Service Commission, 3 Empire State Plaza, 14th floor, Albany, NY 12223-1350.
This entry was posted
on Thursday, May 21st, 2009 at 1:05 pm by Laura Incalcaterra. 
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