**Please Scroll to the Bottom for the Commission's Decision** 

The New York State Public Service Commission seeks public comments on the Joint Proposal regarding Corning Natural Gas Corporation's proposed rate increase. Opportunities to comment include a public statement hearing, which will be held before an Administrative Law Judge.

It is not necessary to make an appointment in advance or present written material to speak at the hearing.  Persons will be called to speak after completing a request card.  The hearing will be held open for a minimum of two hours, and will continue until everyone wishing to speak has been heard or other reasonable arrangements are made.

Disabled persons requiring special accommodations may place a collect call to the Department of Public Service'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 Resources Management Office at the previously mentioned number.

 Public Statement Hearing

Thursday, February 16, 2012
Beginning at 4:00 p.m.

Southeast Steuben County Library
300 Nasser Civic Center Plaza, Suite 101
Corning, New York
 

Background

On May 24, 2011, Corning Natural Gas Corporation (Corning or the Company)  formally asked the New York State Public Service Commission (Commission or PSC) to approve increases in revenues (the total amount of money collected from customers through the rates they pay) for gas delivery service.

On January 13, 2012 a Joint Proposal was filed by Department of Public Service (DPS) Staff, Corning, the Department of State, Bath Electric, Gas and Water Systems  and  Multiple Intervenors (an association of large industrial, commercial and institutional energy consumers) proposing terms to resolve contested issues, including a three-year rate plan starting May 1, 2012.

The Commission must decide the case by May 1, 2012.  It may adopt or reject the Joint Proposal in whole or in part.  Two Administrative Law Judges are presiding over the gathering of public comments and all evidence relating to the proposal.

How to Comment on the Case:

• The Internet:

  Comments may be submitted via the Internet in two ways: (1) by accessing the Department's Website - http://www.dps.ny.gov - Scroll under the titles, "What's Hot", then "Natural Gas", and click on "Corning Natural Gas." Then click on "PSC Comment Form;" and (2) e-mail comments can be sent directly to the Secretary to the Commission at http://www.[email protected]. Many libraries offer free Internet access.
  
• Mail Written Comments: Written comments may also be mailed to Hon. Jaclyn A. Brilling, Secretary, Public Service Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350.
  
• Toll-Free Opinion Line: Another way to submit comments is 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 refer to "Case 11-G-0280 - Corning Natural Gas Corporation - Gas Rates."

All statements and comments received by the Administrative Law Judge and the Commission will be placed in the case file and posted to the Commission's Document Matter and Management System to be viewed electronically on the Commission's Website (http://www.dps.ny.gov).

All comments should be submitted, or mailed and postmarked, by no later than March 15, 2012.  All public comments received by the Commission will be placed in the official case file and subject to public inspection.  Persons interested in Corning Natural Gas Corporation's rate filing may view it at the Commission's offices at Three Empire State Plaza, 14^th Floor, Albany, New York and 90 Church Street, New York, New York (bring picture identification for a security check), or on the Commission's Website (http://www.dps.ny.gov).

Next Steps

The Commission will formally consider the case at one or more regularly scheduled public meetings.  Following its discussion and deliberations at such meetings, the Commission will issue a written order.

Update as of April 19, 2012: Commission's Decision

On April 19, 2012, the New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) voted to approve a Joint Proposal for a three-year rate plan for Corning Natural Gas Corporation’s (Corning) natural gas service. The new rate plan commenced on May 1, 2012 and will run through April 30, 2015. The rate plan was proposed jointly by Corning Natural Gas Corporation(Corning or the Company), Department of Public Service Staff(Staff), Multiple Intervenors, the Village of Bath Electric, Gas, and Water Systems (Bath), and the Utility Intervention Unit of the New York State Department of State (UIU).

The Commission’s decisions, when issued, may be obtained by going to the Commission’s www.dps.ny.gov Web site and entering Case Number 11-G-0280, 08-G-1137 or 09-G-0790 in the input box labeled "Search by Case Number." Many libraries offer free Internet access. Commission orders may also be obtained from the Commission’s Files Office, 14th floor, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12223 (518-474-2500).

You can click here for a printable factsheet regarding information in this case.