NYS Public Service Commission
Seeks Input Into Long Island American Water Rates (Case 11-W-0200)

 The Public Service Commission is seeking public comment concerning a joint proposal that recommends an increase in water rates for Long Island Water Corporation, d/b/a Long Island American Water (LIAW)  for three consectutive years starting April 1, 2012, 2013, and 2014. 

Each year's rates would be designed to increase the company's annual net revenues by $1.4 million (2.8 percent), $1.4 million (2.6 percent), and $1.2 million (2.2 percent) in the first, second and third years, respectively.  Bills for typical residential customers would increase 2.5 percent, 2.6 percent, and 2.2 percent in the first, second, and third years under the joint proposal. 

Two public statement hearings on the proposed changes in water rates for LIAW will be held, as follows:

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2011

Nathan L. H. Bennett Pavilion
(next to Hempstead Town Hall) 
One Washington Street 
Hempstead, NY 11550

3:00 p.m and 7:00 p.m 

Among the other proposed provisions to be considered by the Commission is a $0.9 million offset to the company's revenue requirement over the next three years, to reflect synergy savings from the proposed acquisition of the New York assets of Aqua New York, Inc., by LIAW's parent, American Water; a process for adjusting rates to reflect any additional Aqua synergy savings; designation of future plant additions whose cost may be recovered through the company's System Improvement Charge; and a formula for customer sharing of earnings, if any, in excess of a 10.2 percent return on common equity.

The joint proposal, an alternative to a rate request filed by LIAW, was the result of negotiations among the company; staff of the Department of Public Service; and the Utility Intervention Unit, Division of Consumer Protection, New York State Department of State.

Public Statement Hearings

There will be an opportunity for informal discussion before each hearing session. The 3:00 p.m. hearing session will adjourn at 6:00 p.m. The 7:00 p.m. session 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 are made. To speak at the hearings, it is not necessary to make an appointment in advance or present written material. Persons will be called to speak after completing a request card. All comments at the hearings will be transcribed and become part of the Commission's formal record.

Disabled persons requiring special accommodations should contact the Department of Public Service's Human Resource Management Office at 518-474-2520 as soon as possible. TDD users can contact that office to request a sign language interpreter, by placing a call through the New York Relay Service at 711.

Other Ways to Comment

Writing: Those who cannot attend or prefer not to speak at a public statement hearing may comment electronically to Hon. Jaclyn A. Brilling, Secretary, at [email protected] or by mail or delivery to Secretary Brilling at Public Service Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12223-1350. Your comment should refer to "Case 11-W-0200 - Long Island Water - Rates."

Toll-Free Opinion Line: You may call the Commission's Opinion Line at 1-800-335-2120. This number is set up to take comments about pending cases from in-state callers, 24 hours a day. Callers should select English or Spanish and press "1" to leave comments about the Long Island Water rate proposal.

All comments by these methods must be received by the Secretary no later than February 15, 2012. All such comments, together with all statements transcribed at the public statement hearings, will become part of the record, will be posted for public viewing on the Commission's website at www.dps.ny.gov, and will be reported to the Commission for its consideration.

In addition to the statements and comments, all testimony, exhibits, and other documents issued or submitted in this case can be found on the above website by searching for Case 11-W-0200. Many libraries offer free Internet access.