The Leatherstocking Gas Company (Leatherstocking) has filed petitions with the New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) for Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity authorizing the Company to exercise natural gas franchises in the Town and Village of Windsor, Broome County, New York.

The Town and Village have granted Leatherstocking natural gas franchises and permission to construct and maintain gas facilities for the purpose of distributing gas within the boundaries of the municipalities.  The Company asserts that the Town and Village are not currently served by a natural gas distribution system.

Informational Forum and Public Statement Hearing

The Commission is seeking public comment on Leatherstocking Gas Company’s petitions to exercise the natural gas franchises granted by the Town and Village of Windsor.  Interested members of the public are invited to attend the hearing and provide comments before an Administrative Law Judge.  The hearing will be preceded by an informational forum, in which Staff from the Department of Public Service (DPS) will provide an overview of the Public Service Law certification process and the Applicant will provide a summary of the petitions.  These presentations will be followed by an opportunity for members of the public to ask questions about the proposal.

It is not necessary to be present at the start of the hearing, or make an appointment in advance, or present written material in order to speak at the hearing.  All comments given at the hearing will be transcribed and become part of the Commission's formal record.  The hearing will adjourn no earlier than 8:00 p.m. and will remain open until everyone wishing to speak has been heard or other reasonable arrangements have been made.

Please join us at the following location:

Disabled persons requiring special accommodations may place a collect call to the DPS's Human Resources Management Office at 518-474-2520.  TDD users may request a sign language interpreter by placing a call through the New York Relay Service at 711 to reach the Department of Public Service’s Human Resource Office at the previously mentioned number.  If you have difficulty understanding English, please call the Department at 1-800-342-3377 for free language assistance services.

Case Background

On February 20, 2015, Leatherstocking filed petitions with the Commission requesting Public Service Law §68 Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity.  The Certificates would authorize Leatherstocking to install gas main and service lines in the Town and Village of Windsor for the purpose of exercising a natural gas service franchise. The Company proposes to construct and operate natural gas distribution facilities, using the municipalities’ roadways, streets, lanes and other public places, for the purpose of furnishing, selling and distributing gas for heat and power in the Town and Village. 

Additional details are set forth in the petitions which are available on the Commission’s website at www.dps.ny.gov.  To access information on the petition regarding the Town of Windsor, click on “Search” and then enter case number “15-G-0098.”  For the Village of Windsor petition, use case number “15-G-0099”.  The Commission may approve, approve with changes, or reject Leatherstocking’s petitions in whole or in part.

Methods for Commenting on the Case

All comments can be submitted at the public statement hearing held on May 21, 2015 or through the methods below:

• Via the Internet or In Writing:  Submit comments electronically to Kathleen H. Burgess, Secretary, at [email protected] or by mail or delivery to Secretary Burgess at the Department of Public Service, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350.  Comments may also be entered directly into the case by locating the case via the home page of the Commission’s website, www.dps.ny.gov, by clicking on “Search,” and entering 15-G-0098 or 15-G-0099 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.
   
• 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-G-0098 Town of Windsor Gas Franchise” or “Case 15-G-0099 Village of Windsor Gas Franchise.”

Comments submitted via these alternative means are requested by June 12, 2015, but will be accepted at any point while these proceedings are pending.  Comments received by the Department will become part of the record considered by the Commission.

For a printable version of our factsheet, please click here.