Specifically, the petition requests that the Commission require every major utility do the following four tasks: “(1) assess how future projections of climate risks and climate variability for New York State and their specific geography or service area will impact their key assets and facilities, their overall system operations, supply chain, worker safety, and emergency response capabilities; (2) identify and prioritize key vulnerabilities based upon the assessment in step 1; (3) evaluate and develop options to ameliorate, mitigate, or minimize the risks identified, including considering different levels of risk mitigation relative to cost, and specifically for electric and gas utilities, consider the required transformation to achieve climate change mitigation targets; and (4) develop a plan and organizational approach to achieve effective and accountable climate governance, including assigning and ensuring executive accountability, collecting and monitoring climate and weather indicators, incorporating climate resiliency into existing planning processes and developing resiliency metrics to track progress over time.”

The Commission is considering whether and how to address the issues identified in the petition, including determining if there is a need for the separate process set forth in the petition, or whether existing proceedings or future rate cases provide appropriate venues for addressing climate change vulnerabilities.

The full text of the petition and the full record of the proceeding may be reviewed online at the Department of Public Service web page: www.dps.ny.gov. The Commission may adopt, reject, or modify, in whole or in part, the action proposed and may resolve related matters.

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.

(21-M-0199SP1)