Petition of the Village of the Hamilton Municipal Utilities Commission for Public Service Commission Approvals to create a Municipal Gas Distribution Utility

PSC Seeking Public Comments
The New York State Public Service Commission held a public statement hearing concerning the Village of Hamilton Municipal Utilities Commission (“Hamilton”) request for authorization to construct gas plant and exercise franchises in the Towns of Eaton, Hamilton and Madison in Madison County, New York. The Public Service Commission’s goal is to obtain public feedback on Hamilton’s proposal. During the public statement hearing, members of the public will had an opportunity to present their comments before an Administrative Law Judge.

Public Statement Hearings were held on February 3, 2014 at the Hamilton Public Library in Hamilton, NY. 

All statements transcribed at the public statement hearing and all other comments received by the Commission become part of the record, and are reported to the Public Service Commission for its consideration. All such comments will be posted for public viewing on the Public Service Commission’s website, at www.dps.ny.gov.

Petition
The Village of Hamilton, acting through the Hamilton Municipal Utilities Commission (“Hamilton”) proposes to construct, own and operate a municipal gas utility (“the Project”). The Project will consist of a natural gas distribution pipeline system in the Village of Hamilton, Town of Eaton, Town of Madison and Town of Hamilton, Madison County, New York. The Project will consist of a distribution pipeline that will interconnect with the existing Tennessee Gas Pipeline located north of US Route 20 near NYS Route 46 and Perkins Road in the Town of Eaton. The Project will provide natural gas to various users in the Village of Hamilton and adjacent towns, including the Community Memorial Hospital, the Hamilton Central School and Colgate University.

Hamilton filed a petition requesting the Public Service Commission (i) approve the exercise of franchises granted to Hamilton by the Towns of Eaton, Madison and Hamilton under Section 68 of the Public Service Law (“PSL”); (ii) approve the Customer Service Agreement between Hamilton and Colgate under Section 65 of the PSL; and (iii) approve the tariff applicable to all customers of Hamilton for gas service attached in the petition as Exhibit 2 under Section 65 of the PSL.

Additional details are set forth in the petition are available on the Public Service Commission’s Web site. The Commission may approve, approve with changes, or reject Hamilton’s petition in whole or in part.

Other Methods for Commenting on the Case
• Via the Internet or In Writing: Those who cannot or do not wish to attend a public statement hearing may submit comments electronically to Hon. 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 following this link and entering comments in the “Post Comments” located at the top of the page. Comments should refer to “Case 13-G-0584 – Petition of Village of Hamilton Municipal Utilities Commission for Approvals to Create a Municipal Gas Distribution Utility.” Many libraries offer free internet service.

• 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” and select the choice for water to leave comments about “Case 13-G-0584 – Petition of Village of Hamilton Municipal Utilities Commission for Approvals to Create a Municipal Gas Distribution Utility.”

Comments submitted via these alternative means are requested by March 15, 2014.

Click here for a copy of the fact sheet.