Public Service Department

Mission

The primary mission of the New York State Department of Public Service is to ensure safe, secure, and reliable access to electric, gas, steam, telecommunications, and water services for New York State’s residential and business consumers, at just and reasonable rates. The Department also oversees the siting of major electric and gas transmission lines and facilities, and ensures the safety of natural gas and liquid petroleum pipelines. The Department seeks to stimulate innovation, strategic infrastructure investment, consumer awareness, competitive markets where feasible, and the use of resources in an efficient and environmentally sound manner.

Budget Highlights

The Executive Budget recommends $82.3 million for the Department. This is an increase of $2 million from the 2011-12 budget. The increase primarily reflects an increase in local assistance funding related to a new power plant siting law enacted in 2011.

The Executive Budget recommends a workforce of 524 FTEs for the Department. This is an increase of 16 FTEs from 2011-12. Due to attrition and the hiring freeze, the Department has lost a significant number of staff in the past year. The increase reflects the filling of critical vacancies, to ensure that the Department can continue to meet its core statutory obligations.

Major budget actions include:

$78.9 million in State Operations funding, the same as 2011-12, in support of the Department’s mission to ensure safe and reliable utility service at just and reasonable rates.
An increase in local assistance funding of $2 million, due to the adoption of a new power plant siting law in 2011. The funding, which is provided by entities proposing to site electric generation and transmission facilities, can be accessed by local governments and community groups to fund intervention activities related to the review process.

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

Briefing Book – Environment and Energy (PDF)

ALL FUNDS APPROPRIATIONS
All amounts are in dollars
Category	Available 2011-12	Appropriations Recommended 2012-13	Change From 2011-12	Reappropriations Recommended 2012-13
State Operations	78,892,000	78,892,000	0	4,513,000
Aid To Localities	1,500,000	3,500,000	2,000,000	4,686,000
Total	80,392,000	82,392,000	2,000,000	9,199,000

PROJECTED LEVELS OF EMPLOYMENT
Full-Time Equivalent Positions (FTE)
Program	2011-12 Estimated FTEs 03/31/12	2012-13 Estimated FTEs 03/31/13	FTE Change
Administration
Special Revenue Funds - Other	93	96	3
Regulation of Utilities
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	15	15	0
Special Revenue Funds - Other	400	413	13
Total	508	524	16

Note: Most recent estimates as of 1/17/2012

Click for additional detailed appropriation tables

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