Recommendations of the DPS Staff Report to Improve Hudson Valley Water's Service
NY-ADR
11/18/20 N.Y. St. Reg. PSC-46-20-00005-P
NEW YORK STATE REGISTER
VOLUME XLII, ISSUE 46
November 18, 2020
RULE MAKING ACTIVITIES
PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
PROPOSED RULE MAKING
HEARING(S) SCHEDULED
I.D No. PSC-46-20-00005-P
Recommendations of the DPS Staff Report to Improve Hudson Valley Water's Service
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 the recommendations of a DPS Staff report regarding Hudson Valley Water Companies, Inc.'s provision of water service and the need for improvement.
Statutory authority:
Public Service Law, sections 89-b, 89-c, 89-i and 89-j
Subject:
Recommendations of the DPS Staff report to improve Hudson Valley Water's service.
Purpose:
To determine if approving the DPS Staff's recommendations is in the public interest.
Public hearing(s) will be held at:
4:00 p.m., Jan. 19, 2021. The Public Hearing will be held online and by telephone. Details for access will be published via Notice at the DPS website (www.dps.ny.gov) under Case 20-W-0477.*
*On occasion, there are requests to reschedule or postpone hearing dates. If such a request is granted, notification of any subsequent scheduling changes will be available at the DPS website (www.dps.ny.gov) under Case 20-W-0477.
Interpreter Service:
Interpreter services will be made available to hearing impaired persons, at no charge, upon written request submitted within reasonable time prior to the scheduled public hearing. The written request must be addressed to the agency representative designated in the paragraph below.
Accessibility:
All public hearings have been scheduled at places reasonably accessible to persons with a mobility impairment.
Substance of proposed rule:
The Commission is considering the recommendations of a Department of Public Service Staff (Staff) report, filed on October 2, 2020, regarding Hudson Valley Water Companies, Inc.'s (the Company) provision of water service and the need for improvement.
On August 9, 2019, the Commission directed Staff to commence an investigation into the Company’s provision of water service, pursuant to Public Service Law (PSL) § 89-I, after receiving petitions from more than 25 of the Company’s ratepayers. On October 2, 2020, Staff’s report was released. Staff found that the Company’s billing practices, customer service, and recordkeeping were not compliant with Commission regulations. In addition, some of the Company’s systems suffer from reduced water pressure, cloudy water, and periodic loss of service. Staff’s Report contains 49 recommendations designed to improve the Company’s water service. A Commission Order was issued on the same date instructing the Company to submit a plan showing how it will comply with Staff’s recommendations within 60 days.
The full text of the report 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.
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.ny.gov/f96dir.htm. For questions, contact:
John Pitucci, Public Service Commission, 3 Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350, (518) 486-2655, email: [email protected]
Data, views or arguments may be submitted to:
Michelle L. Phillips, Secretary, Public Service Commission, 3 Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350, (518) 474-6517, email: [email protected]
Public comment will be received until:
60 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.
(20-W-0477SP1)
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