Orange and Rockland Gas and Electric Rate Cases (2014-2015)

Case Information:  14-E-0493 and 14-G-0494

Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc. (“Orange and Rockland”), which is located in northwestern suburbs of New York City, Orange and Rockland counties, northern New Jersey, and northern corner of Pennsylvania, delivers energy to approximately 300,000 electric and 128,000 gas customers.  On November 14, 2014, the Company sought an electric revenue increase of $33.14 million and natural gas revenue increase of $40.7 million for a one-year case – which would affect customers in all or parts of Orange, Rockland, and Sullivan Counties.  The request was largely due to a rise in property taxes, additional electric and gas infrastructure investments (including the installation of Advanced Meter Infrastructure (“AMI”) in Rockland County), and costs related to Superstorm Sandy.  On average, this request would increase electric and gas delivery rates by 11.5% and 35%, respectively. 
 

On March 20, 2015 and April 10, 2015, the UIU filed testimony on low income, cost of service, revenue allocation, rate design, AMI and other consumer related issues.  The UIU participated in settlement negotiations (commenced on April 15, 2015) which ultimately led to a settlement agreement. 

On October 16, 2015, the Commission adopted a two year electric rate plan and a three year gas rate plan for Orange and Rockland, with new rates beginning November 1, 2015.  The approved rate plan limits the increase in electric and gas charges, which will save utility consumers in the state $17.4 million ($15.3 million electric and $2.1 million gas).  Electric residential customers will experience modest bill impacts (typically less than 2% per rate year) and no change to their monthly customer charge.  For gas customers, a levelized rate alternative has been approved to mitigate gas bill impacts. To advance New York State’s Reforming the Energy Vision policy objectives, the rollout of AMI and the Pomona Distributed Energy Resources (“DER”) program were also part of the agreement.   

To learn more about these cases, please go to the Department of Public Service’s Document and Matter Management System (“DMM”) under the above referenced case numbers.

• Proceeding on Motion of the Commission as to the Rates, Charges, Rules and Regulations of Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc. for Electric Service.
• Proceeding on Motion of the Commission as to the Rates, Charges, Rules and Regulations of Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc. for Gas Service.