The PSC today issued its Order on proposed utility tariff amendments to comply with a 2015 State law intended to make it easier for municipalities to purchase their street light systems. The Order required modifications to proposed utility tariff provisions. Importantly, the PSC agreed with comments prepared by CLP on behalf of the MHSC, and co-signed by the Ulster County Association of Town Supervisors and Village Mayors, arguing that certain additional costs imposed by utilities in the past as a condition of municipal purchase are unfair and should not continue.
The Commission also agreed that more had to be done to increase transparency and level the playing field in negotiations between the utility and municipalities in the purchase process, and required that utilities provide all of the information to municipalities behind utility purchase price estimates. (For background information on this Order, see our April 30, 2016 news update.)