tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-325135932024-02-07T02:51:49.205-05:00NEW YORK'S UTILITY PROJECT The Public Utility Law Project of New York works to advance universal service, affordability, and customer protection for low and fixed income energy and utility consumers.
The blog has been moved to the new Utility Project website at
http://utilityproject.org/category/updates/Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger648125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32513593.post-75446454935055693332014-06-04T23:16:00.001-04:002014-06-05T18:25:11.998-04:00Utility Project Blog is now at the New York Utility Project Website
The Utility Project Blog is now at the new website of the Public Utility Law Project of New York, at http://utilityproject.org/
All of the posts at this site, plus new blog posts are posted and searchable at the "Updates" tab of the new website.
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32513593.post-30883931127273508682013-12-31T15:05:00.001-05:002013-12-31T15:05:46.101-05:00Happy New Year for Con Edison: News Year's Eve Proposal Would Continue High Rates if Approved by PSC
Con Edison filed new rates last year with data regarding a one year case, and the PSC suspended implementation of new rates until they could be reviewed. Department of Public Service (DPS) Staff and other parties filed testimony regarding the filed one-year rate proposal, cross examination of witnesses was conducted over several weeks, and parties submitted post-hearing briefs to the Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32513593.post-84046365129043074042013-12-19T10:41:00.001-05:002013-12-19T13:47:54.293-05:00Con Edison: PSC Will Back Our Illegal Practice of Shutoffs for Bills of Deceased Customers Instead of Opening Accounts for Household Members
One of the basic precepts of the Home Energy Fair Practices Act, enacted in 1981, was to end the practice of denying service to applicants to collect the debts of former customers. The law clearly requires the prompt provision of service to applicants who owe no arrears for service provided to a prior account in his or her name. The right to service upon request is a personal rightUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32513593.post-83078207280726393742013-12-10T18:47:00.001-05:002013-12-17T22:16:21.592-05:00Union and Utility Project Oppose KeySpan Proposal to Reduce Walk-in Gas Customer Service at Eight Long Island Offices and to Relocate Call Center to Brooklyn
KeysPan East Gas Corporation has filed a proposal with the PSC seeking to eliminate all customer service assistance (except for taking payments) at eight of its eleven long island customer assistance offices. In an update, the utility says it will put a courtesy phone in 8 centers linked to their call center, which they also propose to relocate, from Melville to Brooklyn. The Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32513593.post-932461564127379792013-11-26T11:15:00.000-05:002013-11-26T12:42:23.523-05:00California ALJs Reject Utility Proposal for Pre-Pay Electric Meters with Remote Shutoff, Illustrating Important Role of Utility Consumer Advocates
On November 22, 2013, Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) for the California Public Utilities Commission (CAPUC) issued a Proposed Decision in a San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) case rejecting the utility's proposal to install pre-pay meters as a "pilot" project.
Utility service is typically provided as a credit transaction, in that customer pays after the service is provided.  Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32513593.post-17413480985614259952013-11-19T13:41:00.002-05:002013-11-19T13:55:01.622-05:00Verizon Misses Service Quality Standards, Again
Today the New York Public Service Commission issued a report, received at its November 14 session, indicating that Verizon again missed major service quality targets. Here is the conclusion of the Third Quarter 2013 Service Quality Report:
The Commission’s approval of Verizon’s revised SQIP in December 2010 established a new reporting paradigm for the company. The revised SQIP was Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32513593.post-88694617804896939612013-11-14T17:20:00.003-05:002013-11-14T17:20:43.499-05:00PSC Holds Off on Requiring New Code in the 315 Area Code Region
The New York State Public Service Commission today announced today it is putting on hold plans to create a new area code within the existing 315 area, which serves Syracuse, Utica, and large areas of the north central part of New York State. The Commission Press Release indicates that a revised number exhaust date allows postponement of the change. COMMISSION PUTS 315 AREA CODE Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32513593.post-24928364961840249262013-10-26T14:51:00.000-04:002013-11-05T18:46:33.259-05:00Fire Kills 3 Boys After Con Ed Shut Power Off to Collect Unpaid Bill and Mom Used Candles
The importance of continued, safe electric service was tragically underscored again last night, when three young Bronx boys, ages 4 months, 2 years, and 5 years died in a fire apparently caused by a candle used for light. According to a CBS news report, "Con Edison confirmed that it had shut off power to the apartment due to non-payment. Neighbors said the mother of five who lived inUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32513593.post-34400510620299145772013-10-24T09:58:00.002-04:002013-10-24T15:05:33.657-04:00PSC Extends Time for Public Comment on Central Hudson Nominee for "Golden Shareholder"
The New York State Public Service Commission, for procedural reasons, has issued a Notice Extending The Period For Commission Consideration Of The Proposed Holder Of A “Golden Share”
in the Central Hudson/Fortis merger case. The Commission previously issued an order approving the merger, which has been consummated. The Commission has not ruled on pending petitions for Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32513593.post-15655119549143336372013-10-18T15:44:00.000-04:002013-10-18T16:10:10.360-04:00ALJs Rule that Refund Statute May Apply in National Fuel Gas Rates Proceeding
Background
In the pending proceeding to review natural gas rates of National Fuel Gas Distribution Company, the New York Public Service Commission set temporary rates subject to refund prospectively from the date of its order. In addition, in light of apparent over earnings in the past, the PSC asked the Administrative Law Judges to examine whether a rarely used Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32513593.post-3991803112013785562013-10-17T14:13:00.000-04:002013-10-17T15:16:35.544-04:00PSC Denies Time Warner Petition to Expand Times when Phone Service May be Interrupted for Bill Collection Purposes
At its October 17, 2013 session, the New York State Public Service Commission denied the Petition of Time Warner Cable Information Services, LLC, to enlarge the times when phone service can be interrupted for bill collection purposes. The Public Utility Law Project of New York, Inc. filed initial comments in the case generally opposing most of the relief sought by Time Warner in its Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32513593.post-89373327812614713892013-10-15T15:00:00.000-04:002013-10-15T16:33:02.657-04:00New York PSC to Consider Impact of Changing Technology on Phone Consumer Protection
The advent of alternative technological platforms for the provision of phone and other telecom services has generated consumer protection issues now on the agenda at the New York Public Service Commission for its October 17, 2013 meeting.
The Time Warner Petition to Relax Customer Protection Rules for VoIP Cable Phone Service
For years, cable TV providers have provided home phone service, Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32513593.post-39494364851896368282013-10-07T11:31:00.002-04:002013-10-15T16:33:26.286-04:00PSC Power to Order Refund of Earnings Above Authorized Return at Issue in National Fuel Case
In the pending National Fuel Gas Distribution Company case the New York Public Service Commission set temporary rates when it found that NFG may be earning more than anticipated when rates were last set in 2007. A proceeding at the PSC is now underway to fix permanent rates, which will be effective as of the date the temporary rates were set.
The Commission observed that in recent Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32513593.post-11745283979921023522013-08-08T15:03:00.000-04:002013-11-14T16:07:18.771-05:00With Millions of Phone Numbers Still Unused in 315 Area Code Region, PULP Urges PSC Not to Add New Area Code Now
Background
In December 2007, the New York PSC issued an order launching its move to create a new area code in what is now the 315 area code region, which encompasses Syracuse, Utica, Watertown and many smaller communities in north central New York. Adding a new area code creates a burden for consumers, whether it be done as a geographic split of the region (requiring area code prefix changes) orUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32513593.post-64976074624621028932013-08-06T09:27:00.000-04:002013-10-15T11:59:20.844-04:00Utility Law Project Opposes Time Warner Petitions for Waiver of Consumer Protection Rules on Telephone Shutoffs, Billing Practices, Customer Service Standards
On August 1, 2013 the Public Utility Law Project of New York, Inc. filed comments opposing the petition of Time Warner Cable Information Systems (Time Warner) for waivers of New York State Public Service Commission rules limiting the days and times when telephone service can be shut off for bill collection purposes, billing and collection rules that require separation and selective serviceUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32513593.post-41726388038618356362013-07-26T17:59:00.001-04:002013-07-26T17:59:15.525-04:00Opponents of Central Hudson Takeover File Petitions for Rehearing, Rate Investigation, and Temporary Rates
On July 26, 2013 Citizens for Local Power, Assemblyman Kevin A. Cahill, and PULP filed petitions with the Public Service Commission for rehearing of the June 26, 2013 PSC Order that approved a non unanimous settlement agreement for the acquisition of Central Hudson Gas and Electric Company by a Canadian holding company, Fortis, Inc. Central Hudson is the utility serving approximately Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32513593.post-45547153180683252752013-07-25T12:21:00.001-04:002013-10-15T12:34:31.619-04:00Utility Law Project Asks Time Warner For Information Regarding Petition to Relax PSC Regulations on Snips and Allocation Priority of Part Payments
Time Warner Cable Information Services ("TSWCIS") has petitioned the PSC for relaxation of regulations governing its telephone service provided to residential customers through its Voice Over Internet Protocol ("VOIP") technology, which uses cable lines to deliver phone service, broad band service, and TV service. See Time Warner Asks PSC to Greenlight Friday Afternoon and Saturday Phone Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32513593.post-32909544098402493312013-07-25T11:09:00.001-04:002013-07-26T18:00:06.082-04:00Phone Deregulation Bill Slips Through Legislature, Awaits Action by Governor
The Supreme Court has observed that "requirements . . . that common carriers file their rates ... and charge only the filed rate are the centerpiece of the ... regulatory scheme****Rate filings are, in fact, the essential characteristic of a rate-regulated industry."
In the waning days of the recent legislative session, a telephone deregulation bill slipped through that would allow New Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32513593.post-9444797330964060312013-07-02T10:30:00.002-04:002013-10-15T11:58:11.430-04:00AG Moves to Stop VZ Substitution of Wireless VoiceLink for Landline Service in Catskills - AARP Files Comments - PSC Extends Public Comment Time
In an Emergency Petition filed with the PSC June 26, 2013, the Attorney General seeks to halt Verizon's broader substitution of its wireless VoiceLink service for traditional copper landline phone service, which can support DSL and fax applications that the wireless service does not support. Earlier, the PSC rejected an effort of Verizon to adopt a broad tariff allowing wireless Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32513593.post-68150724859768617332013-06-28T11:22:00.003-04:002013-07-26T18:00:35.422-04:00Moreland Commission Recommends Stronger Utility Consumer Advocacy
The Moreland Commission on Utility Storm Preparation and Response, was created on November 13, 2012 by Executive Order No. 73. While its main focus was investigation of the Long Island Power Authority and storm issues, its mission also encompassed the broader functioning of utility regulation in the state:
(A) study, examine, investigate and review: (i) the emergency preparedness Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32513593.post-36400086617822542042013-06-24T08:43:00.000-04:002013-07-26T18:00:54.409-04:00NY PSC Ex Parte Communication Practices Faulted by Moreland Commission
In the recent Central Hudson merger and rate plan extension case, it may be that ex parte presentations played a role in the Commission's unexpected overturning of the Recommended Decision of Administrative Law Judges presiding in the matter to reject the acquisition of the utility by Fortis, Inc.
In addition to storm and LIPA related matters, the Moreland Commission on Utility Storm Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32513593.post-72406210916101307592013-06-20T09:33:00.002-04:002013-06-20T12:01:36.925-04:00LIPA Agreement Announced
Legislative agreement has been announced regarding revision of the operating structure of the Long Island Power Authority ((LIPA). The announcement includes a chart comparing the existing and fully privatized scenarios with the new arrangement, which retains public ownership in LIPA but gives the private operating company more powers to change its rates, terms and conditions of service, Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32513593.post-12691653560190052872013-06-20T00:54:00.002-04:002013-10-15T12:37:52.808-04:00Time Warner Asks PSC to Greenlight Prime Time Evening, Friday Afternoon and Saturday Phone Shutoffs for Collection Purposes, and to Relax Other Consumer Protections
Time Warner's phone service subsidiary (Time Warner Cable Information Services (New York) LLC) filed a Petition on May 1, 2013 with the Public Service Commission, seeking "Waivers of Certain Commission Regulations Pertaining to Partial Payments, Directory Distribution, Timing for Suspension or Termination of Service, and a Partial Waiver of Service Quality Reporting Requirements." In a Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32513593.post-27018063440407662262013-06-19T23:59:00.003-04:002013-06-20T00:04:20.836-04:00Governor Names Audrey Zibelman as New PSC Commissioner and Chair
The composition and leadership of the New York Public Service Commission is in flux. In a swift move at the end of the legislative session Audrey Zibelman was nominated by the Governor to be a Commissioner of the New York Public Service Commission, replacing Commissioner James Larocca, who is serving at will after the expiration of his term.
In addition, she will be designated to be the Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32513593.post-39478287283937648702013-06-11T18:30:00.000-04:002013-06-11T18:30:23.837-04:00Parties Respond to Central Hudson/Fortis Revisions to Merger Proposal and Rate Plan Extension
With the time for a PSC decision on the Fortis proposal for takeover of Central Hudson approaching, and facing a Recommended Decision of DPS Administrative Law Judges urging disapproval, Central Hudson and Fortis filed a revised proposal with dubious "enhancements." See After Final Submissions on Prior Proposal, Fortis, Central Hudson File New Plan With PSC for Fortis Acquisition, May 30, Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0