PSC-07-12-00013-P To Consider Modifying a Commission Order

2/15/12 N.Y. St. Reg. PSC-07-12-00013-P

NEW YORK STATE REGISTER

VOLUME XXXIV, ISSUE 7

February 15, 2012

RULE MAKING ACTIVITIES

PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION

PROPOSED RULE MAKING

NO HEARING(S) SCHEDULED

 

I.D No. PSC-07-12-00013-P

To Consider Modifying a Commission Order

PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE State Administrative Procedure Act, NOTICE is hereby given of the following proposed rule:

Proposed Action:

The Commission is considering whether to modify its Order dated 3/25/08, to allow installation of isolation transformers as warranted by public safety considerations and also allow installations in the base of traffic signal structures.

Statutory authority:

Public Service Law, sections 5(1), 65(1) and 66(1)

Subject:

To consider modifying a Commission order.

Purpose:

Discontinue system wide installation of isolation transformers in street lights and traffic signals.

Substance of proposed rule:

In Case 07-E-0523, the Public Service Commission (Commission) approved the proposal by Consolidated Edison of New York, Inc. (Con Edison or Company) to install isolation transformers on its underground secondary distribution system in order to eliminate stray voltage conditions associated with streetlights and traffic signals. The Commission’s Order dated 3/25/08, directed Con Edison to perform as many installations as can reasonably and cost effectively be accomplished.

Con Edison filed a petition with the Commission in which it states that the Company and the City of New York Department of Transportation have instituted several effective measures that have substantially reduced the risk of electric shock from streetlights and traffic signals. And, as a result of these mitigation efforts, across-the-board installation of isolation transformers throughout the entire underground system is no longer reasonable or cost effective in reducing the number of electric shocks from streetlights and traffic signals. Accordingly, Con Edison requests that the Commission modify its Order to authorize the Company to discontinue the system-wide installation of isolation transformers for street lights and traffic signals. Noting that isolation transformer installation at particular locations may be warranted by public safety considerations, Con Edison requests that the Commission further modify its Order to provide that Con Edison install isolation transformers for such street light and traffic signal locations as may be warranted by public safety considerations, and that the Company be authorized to make installations in the bases of traffic signal poles instead of in the manhole or service boxes supplying power to the traffic signals. Specifically, Con Edison would install isolation transformers for selected street lights or traffic signals presenting an elevated risk of shock.

The Company estimates that the cost of its modified installation program will be about $11 million through 2025 versus a cost of about $167 million to deploy isolation transformers at the remaining 119,700 locations throughout the underground distribution system through 2025 – a net capital savings of about $156 million. The Commission may apply its decision in this case to other utilities.

Text of proposed rule and any required statements and analyses may be obtained by filing a Document Request Form (F-96) located on our website http://www.dps.state.ny.us/f96dir.htm. For questions, contact:

Leann Ayer, Public Service Commission, 3 Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350, [phone], email: [e-mail]

Data, views or arguments may be submitted to:

Jaclyn A. Brilling, Secretary, Public Service Commission, 3 Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350, [phone], email: [e-mail]

Public comment will be received until:

45 days after publication of this notice.

Regulatory Impact Statement, Regulatory Flexibility Analysis, Rural Area Flexibility Analysis and Job Impact Statement

Statements and analyses are not submitted with this notice because the proposed rule is within the definition contained in section 102(2)(a)(ii) of the State Administrative Procedure Act.

(07-E-0523SP10)