The New York State Department of Public Service (Department or DPS) seeks public comments concerning a management and operations audit of the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA or Authority) that will be performed within the next 18 months. Opportunities to comment include four public statement hearings, preceded by information forums, which will be held before an Administrative Law Judge.

Interested members of the public are invited to attend the public information forums to learn about the management and operations audit process from the Staff of the Department. Following each forum, a public statement hearing (PSH) will be conducted at which members of the public may provide their comments concerning the upcoming LIPA management and operations audit.

It is not necessary to make an appointment in advance to present written material or to speak at the hearings. Persons will be called to speak after completing a request card. Each session will remain open for at least one hour 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 DPS 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 DPS Human Resource Management Office at the previously mentioned number.

 Public Information Forums
Public Statement Hearings

Wednesday, March 7, 2012
1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Public Information Forum
2:00 p.m. Public Statement Hearing

6:30 p.m. – 7:15 p.m. Public Information Forum
7:30 p.m. Public Statement Hearing

Nassau County Legislative Building
First Floor – Legislative Chamber
1550 Franklin Avenue
Mineola, New York

Thursday, March 8, 2012
1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Public Information Forum
2:00 p.m. Public Statement Hearing

6:30 p.m. – 7:15 p.m. Public Information Forum
7:30 p.m. Public Statement Hearing

Suffolk County Community College
Grant Campus – Health, Sports & Education Center
Lecture Hall MD 105
502 Wicks Road
Brentwood, New York

Background

On February 1, 2012, Governor Cuomo signed into law the Long Island Power Authority Oversight and Accountability Act (the Act). The Act requires a review and evaluation of the Authority’s overall operations and management practices that includes, among other things, an examination of overall efficiency, construction and capital program planning, the Fuel and Purchased Power Cost Adjustment, the annual budgeting process, debt service obligations and the Authority’s compliance with its debt covenants. The Act directs LIPA’s cooperation in the audit, requires that a second audit be initiated no later than December 15, 2015, and requires subsequent audits to be initiated at least once every five years thereafter. The audits will be conducted by an independent contractor selected by the Department. The cost of the audits will be paid by LIPA.

In the future, there will be pertinent information concerning the audit available on the DPS Website –http://www.dps.ny.gov – click Search and enter 12-00314 in the field box for "Search For Case/Matter Number" and click again. Filed documents will be found there. Please visit often as additional documents may be added. The Department also seeks comments concerning the LIPA management and operations audit, from those consumers who do not speak at a PSH. Interested members of the public may comment as noted below. Your comments should refer to "Matter No. 12-00314 – LIPA Management & Operations Audit."

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 – click Search and enter 12-00314 in the field box for 'Search For Case/Matter Number" and click again. Finally, click on "Post Comments" at the top of the page and, (2) e-mail comments can be sent directly to the Secretary to the Commission at: [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 to the Department is by calling the 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 regarding "Electric Issues" and refer to "Matter No. 12-00314 – LIPA Management & Operations Audit."

  All statements and comments received by the Administrative Law Judge and the Department will be placed in the matter file and posted to the Department’s Document Matter and Management System to be viewed electronically on the Department’s Website (http://www.dps.ny.gov).
  
  All comments should be submitted, or mailed and postmarked, by no later than Friday, March 9, 2012. All public comments received by the Department will be placed in the official matter file and subject to public inspection.

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