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

The Public Service Commission adopted an order on April 15, 2020 extending the deadline for local gas distribution companies (LDCs) to complete baseline inside atmospheric corrosion inspections in Non-business Districts, baseline inside leakage surveys in Non-business Districts, and regular inside leakage surveys and atmospheric corrosion surveys within Business Districts to August 1, 2020. The new deadline is August 1, 2020, pending possible further extensions based upon public need, for completion of the above-described baseline and continuation of regular inspections.

Preservation of public health, public safety and general welfare.

Governor Andrew Cuomo, on March 7, 2020, declared a state of emergency due to the unprecedented coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that is now spreading rapidly throughout New York State and the entire country. The declaration, while necessary to protect the health, safety, and general welfare of the public, has inevitably resulted in the temporary closure of many businesses and schools across the state. Given the potential for widespread exposure of customers and utility workers to COVID-19, New York local gas distribution companies (LDCs) have sought Commission approval to extend the time within which LDCs must complete their baseline atmospheric corrosion inspections in Business Districts and Non-business Districts and baseline inside leakage surveys in Non-business Districts from April 20, 2020 to August 1, 2020. Absent immediate Commission action, the LDCs would be in violation of the Commission’s Order Establishing Statewide Inspection Schedules and Procedural Requirements, issued April 20, 2017. The gas companies’ request is somewhat refined in that the Commission is extending the deadline for completion of baseline inside atmospheric corrosion inspections in Non-business Districts, baseline inside leakage surveys in Non-business Districts, and pausing the completion of regular inside leakage surveys and atmospheric corrosion surveys within Business Districts to August 1, 2020. To protect the safety of the public and gas company workers, extension of the impending April 20, 2020 deadline, cannot wait for the 60 day comment period to expire.

Extension of time for gas companies to complete baseline atmospheric corrosion inspections and leakage surveys.

To protect utility workers and customers from virus exposure during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Public Service Commission adopted an order on April 15, 2020 extending the deadline for local gas distribution companies (LDCs) to complete baseline inside atmospheric corrosion inspections in Non-business Districts, baseline inside leakage surveys in Non-business Districts, and regular inside leakage surveys and atmospheric corrosion surveys within Business Districts to August 1, 2020. The new deadline is August 1, 2020, pending possible further extensions based upon public need, for completion of the above-described baseline and continuation of regular inspections.

to serve as both a notice of emergency adoption and a notice of proposed rule making. The emergency rule will expire July 13, 2020.

John Pitucci, Public Service Commission, 3 Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350, (518) 486-2655, email: [email protected]

Michelle L. Phillips, Secretary, Department of Public Service, 3 Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350, (518) 474-6530, email: [email protected]

60 days after publication of this notice.