PSC Starts Forums On Utility Companies' Storm Isaias Response

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — As the region girds for a massive winter storm, the New York State Department of Public Service will hold the first of four virtual public forums about potential damages and harm suffered by ratepayers as a result of electric service providers' performance after Tropical Storm Isaias.

SEE: Storm Track Shifts: 20 Inches Of Snow Possible In Mid-Hudson

Altice-Optimum, Con Edison, Orange & Rockland Utilities and Central Hudson face "steep penalties" for their responses to the damage caused by Isaias. About 1.3 million New York customers experienced power outages during the Aug. 4 storm; most were without power for several days.

Plus, the department is threatening to pursue franchise revocations for Con Edison and Orange & Rockland.

After Gov. Andrew Cuomo called their operation "unacceptable," Con Edison said its response was good, given the impact of the storm. "Our storm response plans enabled us to restore more than 300,000 customer outages from Tropical Storm Isaias more than two times faster than after Winter Storms Riley and Quinn and 1.5 times faster than Hurricane Irene," spokesman Allan Drury said.

The New York State Public Service Commission's investigation was the fastest ever conducted by New York's utility regulator, and left three of the state's largest utilities — Con Edison, Orange & Rockland (O&R) and Central Hudson — facing potential penalties totaling $137.3 million.

All three will now be required to explain why penalties should not be imposed.

The hearing schedule is:

• Central Hudson Customers: 4 p.m. Thursday
• Orange and Rockland Customers: 4 p.m. Dec. 22
• Con Edison Customers: 4 p.m. Jan. 5
• PSEG-LI Customers: 4 p.m. Jan. 12

Sign-in details may be obtained by going to the Department's Documents section at www.dps.ny.gov and entering Case Number 20-E-0586 in the input box labeled "Search for Case/Matter Number."