PSC-14-10-00009-P KEDLI's Petition to Disburse Positive Funds from the Program's Balancing Account to Enhance Its Existing Program

4/7/10 N.Y. St. Reg. PSC-14-10-00009-P

NEW YORK STATE REGISTER

VOLUME XXXII, ISSUE 14

April 07, 2010

RULE MAKING ACTIVITIES

PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION

PROPOSED RULE MAKING

NO HEARING(S) SCHEDULED

 

I.D No. PSC-14-10-00009-P

KEDLI's Petition to Disburse Positive Funds from the Program's Balancing Account to Enhance Its Existing Program

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 a petition from KeySpan Gas East Corporation d/b/a National Grid (KEDLI) for approval to enhance its current Low Income Discount Program (Program) utilizing positive funds from the Program's Balancing Account.

Statutory authority:

Public Service Law, sections 65 and 66

Subject:

KEDLI's petition to disburse positive funds from the Program's Balancing Account to enhance its existing Program.

Purpose:

Consideration of KEDLI's proposed enhancements to its Program, funded by positive funds in the Program's Balancing Account.

Substance of proposed rule:

The Public Service Commission (Commission) is considering a petition from KeySpan Gas East Corporation d/b/a National Grid (KEDLI) (Company) to enhance the Company’s current Low Income Discount Program using positive funds in the Company’s Low Income Discount Program Balancing Account (Balancing Account). As of December 31, 2009, $7,494,569 has accumulated in the Company’s Balancing Account. The Company’s Gas Rates Joint Proposal, adopted by the Commission in Cases 06-G-1185 and 06-G-1186, states that, if the Balancing Account has a positive balance in excess of $1 million at the end of Rate Year Two (2009), the Company or any other interested party may submit a proposal for disbursement of the funds. The Company proposes to utilize the funds in the Balancing Account to enhance the current Low Income Discount Program by: (1) on its own and in concert with third party organizations, engaging in an expanded Outreach and Education campaign to increase enrollment; (2) implementing a file matching program with Suffolk County Department of Social Services, Nassau County Department of Social Services and New York City Human Resources Administration to identify additional customers who may be eligible for the Low Income Discount Program; (3) suspending the customer service charge for Low Income Discount Program customers for Rate Years Three (2010) through Five (2012); (4) expanding the On-Track arrears forgiveness program; and (5) if funds allow, providing a lump sum payment to those customers enrolled in the Low Income Discount Program for each of Rate Years Two and Three. The Commission may grant, deny or modify, in whole or in part, the petition filed by the Company, and may also consider related matters.

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.

(06-G-1186SP7)