National Grid Files Proposed Rate Plan Settlement With New York Public Service Commission

BROOKLYN AND HICKSVILLE, N.Y. –– National Grid, Department of Public Service Staff, and other interested parties have filed a Joint Proposal for a multi-year rate settlement for the company’s downstate New York natural gas distribution businesses focusing on affordability and clean energy programs with no revenue increase for the first year of the plan.

The Joint Proposal is supported by a broad range of stakeholder interests. The proposed settlement is for a three-year rate plan that covers the period April 2020 to March 2023. National Grid serves more than 1.9 million customers in Brooklyn, Staten Island, parts of Queens and Long Island.

“Our proposal seeks to fund programs necessary to continue safe and reliable service, modernize the gas network for safer, more reliable and cleaner delivery of energy,” said Rudy Wynter, National Grid’s President of New York. “We will maintain our focus on customer affordability through maximizing efficiencies over the multi-year rate plan.”

Focus on customer affordability, clean energy programs

The settlement maintains a focus on managing customer affordability in response to the economic downturn caused by COVID-19, while funding programs necessary to maintain safety and modernize the gas networks for more reliable and cleaner delivery of energy.  

Highlights include:

• Supporting clean energy programs, including funding for Newtown Creek renewable gas project, a hydrogen blending study and increased geothermal non-pipe alternatives;
• Increasing energy efficiency and demand response programs;
• Providing a framework for advancing the non-infrastructure solutions identified to address long-term demand in downstate New York;
• Investing $3.3 billion in capital improvements to improve safety and reliability; and
• Installing a total of 671 miles of leak resistant gas main through the end of 2023 (replacing 194 miles for the company’s NYC business; 477 miles for the company’s Long Island business).
   

If approved, the proposed total revenue increase for the New York business is: 0% in year one (the year ending April 2021) and 2% in years two and three. For the Long Island business (including the Rockaway Peninsula), the total revenue increase is 0% in year one and 1.8% in years two and three. The settlement applies nearly $100 million of credits over three years to offset the cost of providing service.  

A final decision from the New York Public Service Commission is expected later this summer.