The New York State Electric and Gas Corporation (NYSEG or Company) filed a petition with the New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) seeking authority to exercise natural gas franchises in the Towns of Dannemora, Peru, Saranac and Champlain, the Villages of Dannemora and Champlain, and the City of Plattsburgh in Clinton County, New York. 

The Commission had previously granted certificates for construction and operation of gas distribution facilities within the franchise territories in each municipality.  However, the certificates restricted the facilities to certain defined project areas.  The Company’s petition indicates that NYSEG has received a significant number of requests for natural gas service and seeks authority to amend the certificates to allow the construction of new distribution mains and attach additional customers along both the new and previously installed gas distribution mains.

Public Statement Hearing

The Commission is seeking public comment on NYSEG’s petition to exercise the franchises in their entirety as granted by these municipalities in Clinton County.  Interested members of the public are invited to attend a public statement hearing and provide their comments regarding the petition. 

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 hearings.  All comments given at the hearing will be transcribed and become part of the Commission's formal record.  The public statement hearing will be open for a minimum of one hour 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 March 1, 2013, NYSEG filed a petition in accordance with Public Service Law §68 for approval to exercise gas franchises in their entirety as granted by the Towns of Dannemora, Peru, Saranac and Champlain, the Villages of Dannemora and Champlain, and the City of Plattsburgh, Clinton County, New York.  The franchises authorized NYSEG to construct gas distribution systems within the municipalities generally using roadways, streets, lanes and other public places, for the purpose of furnishing, selling and distributing gas for light, heat and power.  NYSEG currently owns and operates facilities in each municipality, which were constructed pursuant to Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) granted by the Commission. 

The CPCN for each municipality restricts the Company’s construction of facilities to certain defined project areas.  NYSEG’s petition also claims that the Company inadvertently provided natural gas service to 699 customers beyond the Commission-approved franchise project areas that were depicted on the maps for each municipality.  NYSEG stated that it was presented with several opportunities in the franchise areas to coordinate construction of distribution gas mains with planned installation of other facilities in an open trench (water, sewer and electric).  In these instances, NYSEG was asked by other entities whether it wanted to install natural gas distribution mains while the trench was open, thereby saving the Company and its customers installation and restoration costs. 

Given that it has provided service to customers outside of the Commission-approved areas, but within the affected municipalities, NYSEG is seeking to amend the Certificates to comply with regulatory requirements for providing natural gas service in the Company's North Country territory.  In addition, the Company noted that it has received a significant number of requests for gas service and that the amendments for extending facilities beyond the approved areas would allow it to serve additional customers.  The petition states that NYSEG’s facilities will accommodate growth and that there are adequate supplies to meet customer obligations. Additional details are set forth in the petition which is available on the Commission’s Web site (go to www.dps.ny.gov, click on “Search” and then search using case number “13-G-0092”). The Commission may approve, approve with changes or reject NYSEG’s petition in whole or in part.

Methods for Commenting on the Case

All comments can be submitted at the public statement hearing listed above 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 13-G-0092 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 13-G-0092 Petition of New York State Electric and Gas Corporation.”

Comments submitted via these alternatives are requested by December 31, 2014.

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