Public Service Commission: Reforming NY State's Energy Industry and Regulatory Practices

The energy industry is in transition. Technological innovation and increasing competitiveness of Renewable Energy resources, combined with aging infrastructure, extreme weather events, and system security and resiliency needs, are all leading to significant changes in how electric energy is produced, managed and consumed.

The New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) is conducting informational forums and public hearings across the State to seek public input and comment on the PSC’s regulatory component of Governor Cuomo’s overall strategic energy plan, ‘Reforming the Energy Vision’, or REV.

The REV initiative will lead to regulatory changes that promote more efficient use of energy and a deeper penetration of renewable resources such as Wind and Solar. The PSC is considering a new business model for energy service providers where distributed energy resources (Tomorrow's Energy Model, see below) will become a primary tool in the planning and operation of the electric system.

 

















PSC identified six policy objectives supporting the REV effort:

• Enhance customer knowledge and tools to enable customers to manage their energy bills and provide them more choice in how they use energy

• Animate the market and leverage ratepayer contributions

• Promote system-wide Efficiency

• Increase fuel and resource diversity

• Enhance system reliability and resiliency

• Reduce Carbon Emissions

PUBLIC HEARINGS:
Two Informational Forums with Public Hearings will be held in Buffalo, NY on  THURSDAY, January 29, 2015:

• FORUM / HEARING Times: 2:00PM/3:00PM;  6:00PM/7:00PM

• PLACE: Buffalo & Erie County Public Library, 1 Lafayette Square, Buffalo [Map]

It is not necessary to be present at the start of the hearing, to make an appointment in advance, or to present written material to speak at the hearing. Persons will be called to speak after completing a request card. Each public statement hearing will continue until everyone wishing to speak has been heard or other reasonable arrangements have been made.

For more information from the PSC, click here.   

Free Conference: Great Lakes Wind Energy Development in NY State - April 12th

The Pace Energy and Climate Center, in collaboration with Citizens Campaign for the Environment and Alliance for Clean Energy New York, is hosting a free conference.

The conference is entitled “Great Lakes Wind Energy Development in New York State”. It will be held on April 12, 9am to 4pm, at the Center for Tomorrow on the University at Buffalo North campus.

Anyone interested in Great Lakes wind energy - students, government officials, local stakeholders, wind developers, etc. - is encouraged to attend. Please feel free to circulate this invitation.

The conference will include four panel presentations and discussions featuring speakers from industry, government and various stakeholder groups. Panelists will cover a range of issues pertaining to the proposed project including regulatory, technical, economic and environmental. Topics to be covered are listed here.

REGISTRATION: To register for the free conference, please click here.