2009-1632009-163
Resolution of Opposition to Central Hudson Rate Increase
At a regular meeting of the Town Board of the Town of Wappinger, Dutchess County,
New York, held at Town Hall, 20 Middlebush Road, Wappingers Falls, New York, on April 13,
2009.
The meeting was called to order by Christopher Colsey, Supervisor, and upon roll being
called, the following were present:
PRESENT: Supervisor
Councilmembers
ABSENT:
Christopher J. Colsey
William H. Beale
Maureen McCarthy
Joseph P. Paoloni
Vincent F. Bettina
The following Resolution was introduced by Councilman Beale and seconded by
Councilman Paoloni.
WHEREAS, the New York State Public Service Commission reports that Central
Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation ("Central Hudson") has requested approval to increase its
annual electric and natural gas delivery charges; and
WHEREAS, according to the New York State Public Service Commission, Central
Hudson is proposing to increase its annual electric delivery revenues by $35.4 million and its
annual gas delivery revenues by $14.7 million for the 12 months starting July 1, 2009; and
WHEREAS, the staff of the New York State Department of Public Service and other
parties have evaluated the facts and circumstances of Central Hudson's request and presented
Central Hudson with a case that would reduce the electric increase to $16.1 million and the
natural gas increase to $6.4 million; and
WHEREAS, according to the New York State Public Service Commission, under the
increase, customers in a typical household would experience a 16% increase in electric delivery
charges and a 28% increase in natural gas delivery charges; and
WHEREAS, Central Hudson's area of service includes the Town of Wappinger and the
proposed rate increase will cause unnecessary hardship for numerous residents of the Town,
particularly those with fixed or limited incomes, as well as place an additional financial burden
on the Town's taxpayers as the Town's facilities are served by Central Hudson; and
WHEREAS, Central Hudson has failed to demonstrate a need for the proposed rate
increases; and
WHEREAS, the matter is presently before the New York State Public Service
Commission, with the public comment period being open until Friday, May 1, 2009; and
WHEREAS, upon consideration, the Town Board finds that such rate increases will
place an undue financial burden on residents, businesses, and local government
NOW, THERFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of
Wappinger, in its capacity as governing body of the Town, does hereby oppose the rate increase
for delivery of electricity and natural gas for which Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation
seeks approval; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that certified copies of this resolution be delivered by
the Town Clerk to the Hon. Jaclyn A. Brilling, Secretary, New York State Public Service
Commission, the Hon. Stephen Saland, Senator representing the 41St District, and the Hon. Joel
Miller, Assemblyman representing the 102'd District, as well as the chief executives of our
surrounding municipalities served by Central Hudson; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the aforesaid resolution shall take effect
immediately.
The foregoing was put to a vote which resulted as follows:
CHRISTOPHER COLSEY, SUPERVISOR Voting: AYE
WILLIAM H. BEALE, COUNCILMAN Voting: AYE
VINCENT F. BETTINA, COUNCILMAN Voting: ABSENT
MAUREEN McCARTHY, COUNCILWOMAN Voting: AYE
JOSEPH P. PAOLONI, COUNCILMAN Voting: AYE
Dated: Wappingers Falls, New York
4/13/2009
The Resolution is hereby duly declared adopted.
9�4
•N, TOWN CLERK
SUPERVISOR
CHRISTOPHER J. COLSEY
To:
From:
Date:
Subject:
TOWN OF WAPPINGER
SUPERVISOR'S OFFICE
20 MIDDLEBUSH ROAD
WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY 12590
(845)297-2744
FAX: (845) 297-4558
Albert Roberts, Esq.
Christopher Colsey, Supervisor
March 23, 2009
Development of Town Board Resolution
Central Hudson Fee. Increases
TOWN COUNCIL
WILLIAM H. BEALE
VINCENT BETTINA
MAUREEN McCARTHY
JOSEPH P. PAOLONI
Please review the attachments as provided by the Town of Poughkeepsie and craft a
similar resolution for the April 13 agenda. I also include documents on the topic from the
Dept. of Public Service.
nk you.
Christopher Colsey,
Town of Wappinger
Evidentiary hearings were held in Albany the week of January 12, 2009. At these hearings, expert witnesses
presented their testimony and were cross-examined by other parties. The testimony and exhibits placed in
evidence by witnesses under oath form the evidentiary record on which the Commission will decide the case.
The parties have also filed written briefs summarizing the basis for their recommendations.
Among the matters the Commission must decide in the Central Hudson case are:
• The total amount of revenues the Company should be allowed to collect in order to provide safe and adequate
service, and attract investment;
• The amount of funding necessary to maintain adequate investment in the Company's infrastructure, and what
to do with any allowed funds that are unspent;
• The amount of funding for operation and maintenance expenses generally, including labor and benefits costs;
• How much it costs the Company to provide service to each customer service classification so that just and
reasonable rates are maintained;
• How to best ensure that the Company does not have a disincentive to promote energy efficiency and
conservation;
• Whether performance-based incentives should be implemented to ensure service reliability is maintained, and
if so, how they should be structured; and
• Other customer service and miscellaneous related issues.
The Commission seeks public comments concerning Central Hudson's proposals. Interested members of the
public may comment as noted below. Your comments should refer to "Cases 08-E-0887 & 08-G-0888 - Central
Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation -- Electric and Gas Rates"
1. Write to: Honorable Jaclyn A. Brilling, Secretary, NYS Public Service Commission, Three Empire State
Plaza, Albany, NY 12223-1350.
2. Submit comments electronically by accessing the Department's Web site — http://www.dps.state.ny.us — and
filling in the electronic "Comment Form." Many libraries offer free internet access.
3. Call the Department's Toll -Free Opinion Line at 1-800-335-2120. This number is designed to take
comments about pending cases from in-state callers, 24 hours a day. Callers should select English or Spanish
and press "1" to leave comments.
All comments should be submitted or mailed and post marked by no later than May 1, 2009. All public
comments received by the Commission will be placed in the official case file and subject to public inspection.
Persons interested in Central Hudson's rate filing may view it at the Commission's offices at Three Empire
State Plaza, 14th Floor, Albany, New York and 90 Church Street, New York, New York (bring picture
identification for a security check), or on the Commission's Web site http://www.dps.state.ny.us.
Taking into account all public comments, the Judges and the Commission's Advisory Staff will prepare further
recommendations. The Commission will formally consider the case at one or more regularly scheduled public
meetings. Following its discussion and deliberations at such meetings, the Commission will issue a written order.
dg 3-10-09
STATE OF NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SERVICE
THREE EMPIRE STATE PLAZA, ALBANY, NY 12223-1350
Internet Address: http://www.dps.state.ny.us
PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
GARRY A. BROWN
Chairman
PATRICIA L. ACAMPORA
MAUREEN F. HARRIS
ROBERT E. CURRY JR.
JAMES L. LAROCCA
Commissioners
Dear Community Leader:
March 23, 2009
PETER McGOWAN
General Counsel
JACLYN A. BRILLING
Secretary
Supervisor Office
MAR 2 5 2009
Received
The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) is seeking public
comments concerning Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation's (Central Hudson) proposal
to increase its annual electric and natural gas delivery revenues. Comments will be accepted.
until Friday, May 1, 2009.
Central Hudson is proposing to increase its annual electric delivery revenues by an
additional $35.4 million and its annual gas delivery revenues by $14.7 million for the 12 months
starting July 1, 2009. Staff of the Department of Public Service (DPS) and other parties have
evaluated the facts and circumstances of Central Hudson's request. DPS Staff presented a case
that would reduce the electric increase to $16.1 million and the natural gas increase to $6.4
million. The attached fact sheet includes additional information regarding the case.
The Commission is seeking the public's comments regarding the proposal. Comments
regarding the case may be sent to the Commission by letter, telephone or e-mail using the
options noted in the attached fact sheet. All comments should be submitted no later than
Friday, May 1, 2009. All public comments received by the Commission will be placed in the
official case file and subject to public inspection.
I would appreciate your assistance in making people in your area aware of the
Company's proposal, the comment period, and the ways they may comment on the case. Please
send this notice and fact sheet to your colleagues, contact groups and constituents. Thank you
for your assistance.
Sincerely,
Richard Gifford
Chief, Consumer Education
Office of Consumer Services
Enc.
installation, maintenance and repair to be substantially less than those of utility
companies in metropolitan areas where power lines are underground; now therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Poughkeepsie, in its
capacity as governing body of the Town, does hereby oppose the rate increase for
delivery of electricity and natural gas for which Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp.
seeks approval; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that certified copies of this resolution be
delivered to Hon. Jaclyn A. Brilling, Secretary, New York State Public Service
Commission, the Hon. Stephen Saland, Senator for the 41St District, and the Hon. Joel
Miller, Assemblyman for the 102nd District, by the Town Clerk, and the chief executives
of surrounding municipalities served by Central Hudson; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the aforesaid resolution shall take effect
immediately.
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G:\mllegal\r\2009\mar\centralhudsonincrease-oppose.doc
Councilman Baisley
Councilman Seminara
Councilman Conte
Councilman Cifone
Councilman Krakower
Councilman Tancredi
Supervisor Myers
Moved:COUNCILMAN STEPHAN KRAKOWER
Seconded:COUNCILMAN MICHAEL CIFONE
Ayes
AYE
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
2
7 Nays 0
NAY
Supervisor Office
RESOLUTION 3:4 - # 14 OF 2009 MAR 0 6 2009
Received
WHEREAS, Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. ("Central Hudson") has
requested approval of increases in the rates it charges to deliver electricity and natural
gas; and
WHEREAS, customers in a typical home would experience increases in their
electric bills of approximately 17% increase for electricity and 28% for natural gas as a
result of said increases; and
WHEREAS, Central Hudson's area of service includes the Town of Poughkeepsie
and the proposed rate increases will cause unnecessary hardship for numerous residents
of the Town, particularly those with fixed or limited incomes, as well as placing an
additional financial burden on the Town's taxpayers as the Town's own facilities are
served by Central Hudson; and
WHEREAS, Central Hudson has failed to demonstrate a need for the proposed
increases, and
WHEREAS, the matter is presently before the New York State Public Service
Commission; and
WHEREAS, upon consideration, the Town Board finds that such rate increases
will place an undue financial burden on residents, businesses and local governments,
STATE OF NEW YORK,
COUNTY OF DUTCHESS} ss.:
TOWN OF POUGHKEEPSIE J
I, SUSAN J. MILLER, Town Clerk of the Town of Poughkeepsie, N. Y., do hereby certify that I have
compared the foregoing copy of resolution 3:4414 of 2009 from the Town of Poughkeepsie
Board Meeting held on March 4, 2009 opposing the Central Hudson
Le increase.
with the original record thereof now remaining on file or of record in this office and
have found the same to be a correct transcript therefrom and the whole of such
original record.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal
of office, this 5th day of May , 20 09
Town Clerk
y , Deputy Clerk
TOWN CLERK
CHRIS MASTERSON
TOWN OF WAPPINGER
TOWN CLERK'S OFFICE
20 MIDDLEBUSH ROAD
WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY 12590
(845)297-5771
April 15, 2009 FAX: (845) 298-1478
TOWN OF EAST FISHKILL
TOWN OF FISHKILL
TOWN OF LAGRANGE
TOWN OF POUGHKEEPSIE
VILLAGE OF WAPPINGERS FALLS
TOWN OF NEWBURGH
TOWN OF WAPPINGER PLANNING BOARD
CITY OF BEACON
CITY OF NEWBURGH
DC DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT
CITY OF POUGHKEEPSIE CHAMBERLAIN
SENATOR STEPHEN SELAND
ASSEMBLYMAN JOEL MILLER
SECRETARY JACLYN A. BRILLING - NYSPSC
SUPERVISOR
CHRISTOPHER J. COLSEY
TOWN COUNCIL
WILLIAM H. BEALE
VINCENT BETTINA
MAUREEN McCARTHY
JOSEPH P. PAOLONI
Please find enclosed, for your reference, a certified copy of Resolution 2009-
163: Resolution of Opposition to Central Hudson Rate Increase. This
Resolution was adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Wappinger, at the
Town Board Meeting of 2009-04-13.
Sincerely,
--�
hn C. Masterson
Town Clerk
Town of Wappinger