Energy Choice
                            

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N.Y. PSC Opens Review of Electric Choice, Barriers at LIPA

January 1, 2016

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Copyright 2010-16 EnergyChoiceMatters.com
Reporting by Karen Abbott • kabbott@energychoicematters.com

The New York PSC has formally opened a review of electric choice at the Long Island Power Authority

The PSC opened the review by inviting comments on the potential benefits to customers of retail competition in the Long Island electricity market, and the following specific questions:

1. What are the benefits to customers of a competitive retail electric market? Are such benefits universal, or particularly applicable to the Long Island service area?

2. What are the opportunities for retail competition in the Long Island electric market?

3. What are the barriers to creating a competitive retail market in the Long Island service area? How should these barriers be addressed?

4. What are the best practices elsewhere in the U.S. or globally for competitive retail electric markets that have proven beneficial to customers?

5. What insight from these best practices is available to inform discussions on the issue of retail electric markets, positive or negative? For instance, could the Texas or U.K. model be applied?

6. What, if any, protections are needed for low-income customers in a competitive retail market on Long Island?

The PSC said that its participatory review of electric choice at LIPA will conclude with the development of DPS recommendations to the LIPA Board of Trustees.

In its notice, the PSC said that, "The fundamental role of the DPS throughout the State is to ensure all customers have access to reliable electric service at the lowest possible costs. DPS further aspires to create a customer-focused electric system with long-term affordability and sustainability by transforming the New York electric system through the Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) proceeding. REV will make the New York electric system stronger, cleaner and more resilient. At the same time, REV will animate private investment in innovative, cost-saving modes of electric service. Without private investment, customers would be forced to fund major improvements, and that would significantly raise New Yorkers’ electric bills."

"While the rest of New York State electric customers already have the option to participate in a competitive retail electric market, retail customers in the LIPA service area face barriers that have prevented competition from developing. DPS’s objective in this proceeding is to investigate potential benefits to customers and examine what reforms, if any, are needed to achieve them," the PSC said

Matter 15-02754

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