New York PSC Specifically Includes ESCOs In Opening Comprehensive Proceeding On Impacts Of COVID Crisis On Customers

June 11, 2020

Email This Story
Copyright 2010-20 EnergyChoiceMatters.com
Reporting by Paul Ring • ring@energychoicematters.com

The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission), in response to the impact of the COVID pandemic on New York’s utilities and ratepayers, established a new proceeding to identify and address the effects of the pandemic on utility and other Commission-regulated services and programs in New York State.

"The proceeding will review how customers have been impacted by the pandemic and explore methods of mitigating those impacts. Further, the pandemic is impacting the operations of these critical industries, and the proceeding will focus on the continued provision of safe and reliable service," the PSC said in a news release

The new proceeding will specifically include impacts related to energy service companies (ESCOs) and their customers

"The new proceeding will address the effects of the COVID pandemic on all entities subject to Commission jurisdiction or permitting authority, including electric, gas and steam distribution utilities, independent power producers, energy service companies, private water supply companies, and telecommunications and cable television companies; utility ratepayers; and Commission-adopted programs, including those related to onshore and offshore renewable energy, distributed energy, energy efficiency and heat pumps. The Commission will also examine the change in electricity use and the unprecedented change in residential and business demand for electricity in light of the work-from-home requirements," the PSC said

While the PSC has already taken various actions in response to COVID, "the Commission recognizes the need to address the ramifications from the ongoing pandemic in a more comprehensive manner as the Commission begins the process of developing and adjusting policies that will guide the entities subject to Commission oversight and their customers through the current crisis," the PSC said in a news release

"This proceeding will include, but not be limited to, impacts on rate-setting, rate design, utility financial strength, low-income programs, regulatory priorities, collections and termination of service; ensuring the provision of safe and adequate service at just and reasonable rates in recognition of the ramifications from the COVID pandemic; and the extent if any that the Commission’s clean energy programs should be maintained or accelerated," the PSC said

"The Commission invites utilities and other entities subject to Commission jurisdiction and programs, ratepayers, and all interested parties to provide comments on issues related to the ramifications of COVID on Commission-adopted tariffs, regulations, policies and programs," the PSC said

Case Number 20-M-0266

ADVERTISEMENT
NEW Jobs on RetailEnergyJobs.com:
• NEW! -- Senior Manager, Energy Market Research & Analytics -- Houston
• NEW! -- Pricing Analyst -- Houston
• NEW! -- Senior Energy Intelligence Analyst -- Energy Procurement
• NEW! -- Channel Partner Sales Manager -- Retail Supplier