Public Service, Department of

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Agency Web Site: http://www.dps.ny.gov/

Mission

The primary mission of the New York State Department of Public Service (DPS) is to ensure affordable, safe, secure, and reliable access to electric, gas, steam, telecommunications, and water services for New York State’s residential and business consumers, while protecting the natural environment. DPS also seeks to stimulate effective competitive markets that benefit New York consumers through strategic investments, as well as product and service innovations. DPS oversees gas transmission lines and facilities and ensures the safety of natural gas and liquid petroleum pipelines.

Organization and Staffing

The Public Service Commission (PSC) consists of seven members who are nominated by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. The chairperson serves as the chief executive officer of DPS, which operates offices in Albany, Buffalo, New York City, Long Island and Syracuse.

Budget Highlights

The Executive Budget recommends appropriations of approximately $197.4 million, including a new $50 million appropriation for an Energy Affordability Guarantee to ensure that low-income residential customers who participate in the NYSERDA EmPower Plus Program and fully electrify their homes, never spend more than 6% of their annual income on electric bills.

The Executive Budget recommends a staffing adjustment of 50 FTEs to bring the total amount of FTEs at DPS to 578. This change is solely due to the transfer of the Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES), tasked with the review and permitting of major renewable energy generation, from the Department of State to DPS. Furthermore, the Executive Budget recommends expanding the authority of ORES to also include the review and permitting of major electric transmission facilities, thereby streamlining the development of electric transmission necessary to meet the State’s climate goals.

For more information on this agency's budget recommendations located in the Executive Budget Briefing Book, click on the following link:

Briefing Book – Environment, Energy, Parks, and Agriculture (PDF)

Program Highlights

The DPS budget has three programs: the Administration Program, which supports the Public Service Commission and DPS activities; the Regulation Program, which undertakes activities to ensure fair and reasonable rates, monitor service standards, address consumer complaints, promote efficient operation, and ensure that industry construction programs meet safety and environmental requirements; and the

Renewable Energy Siting and Electric Transmission Program, which oversees the siting applications for major renewable energy generation and electric transmission projects.

DPS will continue the following priorities in the coming year:

• Ensure just and reasonable utility rates, along with safe and adequate electric, gas, steam, and telecommunications service.
• Provide regulatory oversight of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority's administration of the Clean Energy Fund. Similarly, DPS will continue to monitor progress towards achieving the goals of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act which mandates that 70 percent of all electricity consumed in New York by 2030 must come from renewable energy sources and zero emissions from the statewide electrical demand system in 2040.
• Conduct siting reviews, oversee the responsible development of a smart electric grid, and ensure the safety of the State’s natural gas pipelines.
• Educate consumers and resolve consumer-utility disputes to ensure fair and responsible utility service.

Note: Most recent estimates as of 01/16/2024