New York PSC launches proceeding to respond to COVID-19’s lingering effects

Responding to a directive from Gov. Andrew Cuomo, the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) created a new proceeding to assess and address the effects the COVID-19 pandemic has had on utilities, regulated services, and their customers in New York.

That pandemic forced Cuomo to declare a state of emergency earlier this year, during which he called on state and local agencies to do what they could to protect public health. It has gone on to hit large swathes of the public and private sector alike, impacting the oversight and programs for things like electric and gas utilities, private water supplies, renewable energy, and telecommunications. This new proceeding will review these impacts and find ways of overcoming them, to guarantee ongoing, reliable service.

“Since the start of the pandemic and the economic downturn, the Commission has acted to respond to the most pressing COVID-related impacts for customers on a timely basis as these issues have emerged,” Commission Chair John Rhodes said.“With this action today, we continue to enable prompt responses on pressing needs for relief and adjustments, as well as dealing with the full range of the impacts in a comprehensive, thoughtful and thorough manner.”

Going forward, this will involve the development of policies to guide those organizations subject to commission oversight. Rate-setting, rate design, utility financial strength, low-income programs, regulatory priorities, collections and termination of service, ensuring safe and adequate service at reasonable rates, and the maintenance or acceleration of clean energy programs are all on the table.

The effects will weigh on all entities within the PSC’s jurisdiction or permitting authority: electric, gas and steam distribution utilities; independent power producers; energy service companies; private water supply companies; telecommunications and cable television companies; and utility ratepayers among them. Programs adopted by the commission, such as those linked to onshore and offshore renewable energy, will also be examined.

Utilities and other entities subject to these efforts have been invited to provide comments on the subject — or concerning any issues caused by COVID-19 — directly to the commission.