Reopening the Hearing on PSC 13-W-0246: A Call for Accountability and Transparency in Rockland County's Water Rates

Strategic Insights -

In a letter to the Hon. Kathleen H. Burgess, Secretary of the Public Service Commission, a concerned citizen has requested that the PSC reopen a hearing on PSC 13-W-0246, citing new information on invoices that reveals millions of dollars in questionable spending by United Water New York (UWNY) on a desalination plant proposal. The citizen argues that UWNY's decision to pursue a desalination plant in Rockland County, one of the wettest counties in New York State, was ill-conceived and has resulted in excessive costs being passed on to ratepayers.

Key Takeaways:

  • The PSC received a letter requesting that the hearing on PSC 13-W-0246 be reopened due to newly released invoices that reveal questionable spending by UWNY on a desalination plant proposal.
  • UWNY spent millions of dollars on propaganda, executive field trips, engineering, and legal costs associated with the desalination plant, despite studies as early as 2009 showing that it was not needed.
  • The invoices submitted by UWNY lack detail and are often heavily redacted, making it unclear what expenses were incurred.
  • The PSC should conduct a thorough audit of UWNY's invoices to ensure that only "just, reasonable, and prudently incurred" costs are recouped from ratepayers.
  • UWNY ignored PSC policy and the law by pursuing an expensive and inappropriate desalination plant, despite the existence of less costly and more sustainable alternatives.
  • The costs incurred by UWNY as a result of its selection of a desalination plant should be borne by the company, not the ratepayers.

Statistics:

  • Rockland County is one of the wettest counties in New York State, making the pursuit of a desalination plant unnecessary (Source: Citizens' letter to Hon. Kathleen H. Burgess).
  • UWNY spent millions of dollars on propaganda, executive field trips, engineering, and legal costs associated with the desalination plant (Source: Citizens' letter to Hon. Kathleen H. Burgess).
  • The invoices submitted by UWNY lack detail and are often heavily redacted (Source: Citizens' letter to Hon. Kathleen H. Burgess).

Sources:

  • Citizens' letter to Hon. Kathleen H. Burgess, Secretary of the Public Service Commission.
  • Public Service Commission, PSC 13-W-0246.