PULP Blogs for 2008
December
Submetering Technical Conference Postponed Until January - 12-31-08
Governor Paterson’s Financial Request to Obama Administration Weak and Vague On Low Income, Energy and Telecom Proposals - 12-31-08
Governor’s Budget Raises Utility “Assessment” Hurting Low Income Customers , But Gives Break to Cable Telephone Service Providers -
12-18-08
In A New York Minute, Governor Paterson Appoints and Senate Confirms James LaRocca As New PSC Commissioner - 12-16-08
Buffet asks NY PSC to Approve Acquisition of Three New York Nuclear Power Stations; Takeover of Constellation Questioned at FERC -
12-09-08
PSC Takes its Time (Again) while Telecom Universal Service Programs Sag - 12-09-08
ALJ Recommends “Overlay” Telephone Area Code Requiring 11-Digit Dialing, Despite Plentiful Numbers and Exchange Codes in Central New York’s 315 Area - 12-08-08
Unmanned HEAP Hotline Fails to Serve the Blind - 12-05-08
OTDA Eases Its Administrative Restrictions on Assistance to Utility Customers with Incomes Above the Public Assistance Levels - 12-05-08
November
Major Job Losses and Rise in Poverty Rate Forecast - 11-26-08
PULP Challenges PSC’s ESCO Orders - 11-25-08
Obama Picks Transition Team for DOE, FERC - 11-25-08
National Grid’s Grand Plan Continues; Still No Action from PSC - 11-21-08
State Tells Suffolk County to Handle Energy Emergencies - 11-20-08
SNAFU in OTDA’s Administration of HEAP Program - 11-19-08
HEAP Eligibility and Benefit Changes Rumored - 11-19-08
Excelsior! NY Achieves Highest Electric Rates in the Continental United States - 11-17-08
Low Income Central Hudson Customers to Receive $1.9 Million Winter Bill Credits - 11-14-08
CLECs Lose Certificates to Offer Service for Not Submitting Tariffs, Why Not ESCOs? - 11-13-08
PSC Refuses to Investigate Utility’s Brazen Violation of HEFPA. - 11-13-08
PULP, Legal Aid, Homeless Advocacy Groups Targeted by Governor for $2.8 Million Cut - 11-12-08
Pennsylvania Utility Regulator Holds Hearings on Flaws in Wholesale Power Markets - 11-12-08
Lax PSC Enforcement of Submetering Orders Allows Landlords to Overcharge for Electricity Sold to Tenants and to Circumvent HEFPA Protections - 11-06-08
PSC Hears Public Opposition to National Grid’s Proposed 33% Natural Gas Delivery Rate Increase - 11-06-08
Will President Obama Repurpose FERC? - 11-05-08
October
PSC Votes to Continue Retail Access Programs Promoting ESCO Services -10-31-08
315 Area Code Number Exhaust Pushed Back Another Year: No Need to Add New Area Code Now - 10-30-08
PULP Submits Testimony in National Grid Natural Gas Rate Case Urging Low Income Rates and Reform of Utility Termination Practices - 10-29-08
Background: Long-Awaited Action - 10-27-08
State Mum on Use of Additional HEAP Funds - 10-24-08
Lehman Bankruptcy Affects NYISO Markets and Constellation Nuclear Plants - 10-21-08
PSC Halts 315 Area Code Changes For Now, But Denies PULP Petition For More Aggressive Telephone Number Conservation And Reclamation - 10-17-08
PSC-Approved Utility Collection Practices Render Family Homeless -
10-16-08
PSC Expresses Concern For Utility Welfare - 10-16-08
Municipality Restores Water Service After PULP Files Federal Lawsuit and Seeks Preliminary Injunction for Tenant in Property Subject to Foreclosure - 10-16-08
PSC Policies Foster Increase in Utility Service Terminations as a Collection Tactic - 10-10-2008
No Electricity: Middletown Residence In Critical Condition From Lantern Fire - 10-10-2008
PSC Typical Monthly Bills Show Trend of Higher Prices and Volatility -
10-10-2008
Municipal Water Companies Exempt from HEFPA Must Still Provide Due Process and Equal Protection to Tenant Users - 10-03-2008
Bush Signs LIHEAP Funding Increase; Public Input Needed On How It Will Be Allocated in New York - 10-03-2008
Conflicting Data On Natural Gas Price Trends - 10-03-2008
Governor Paterson Vetoes Utility Call Center Bill - 10-03-2008
September
State Utility Assistance is Not a "One-Shot Deal" - 09-26-2008
Winter Heating Assistance Available For Households Using Oil and Non-Heating Fuels - 09-25-2008
PSC Rejects PULP’s Recommendation To Improve Niagara Mohawk Gas Interim Energy Efficiency Proposal - 09-18-2008
Rockefeller Institute Reports First Drop in Welfare Spending in 25 Years -
09-18-2008
Where are the PSC’s ESCO Marketing Rules? - 09-11-2008
PULP Attorney Names to North American National Telephone Numbering Council - 09-11-2008
PULP Update on Public Assistance For Energy and Utility Costs -
09-10-2008
While the PSC Deliberates, Consumers Continue to be Hurt by ESCOs - 09-05-2008
August
Utilities Must Offer Written, Negotiable Payment Agreements Before Terminating Electric or Natural Gas Service - 08-29-2008
Household Telephone Penetration and Lifeline Enrollment - 08-29-2008
Will Governor Paterson Repurpose the Public Service Commission To Protect Consumers? - 08-28-2008
PULP Reiterates Need to Expand Niagara Mohawk’s Gas Efficiency Program - 08-22-2008
State Cuts Grants for PULP - 08-22-2008
FERC Watches While NYISO Gamers Loot Consumers - 08-21-2008
PULP Utility Bill Estimator Now Available for Central Hudson Customers - 08-20-2008
PSC Makes ESCO Service Comparisons Difficult - 08-18-2008
NYISO Governance - Director Conflicts - 08-17-2008
Schumer, Power Authority Ask FERC to Investigate NYISO Market Gaming and Consider Consumer Refunds - 08-15-2008
FCC: VoIP Providers Can be Required to Support State Universal Service Fund: Where is New York? - 08-15-2008
Governor Proposes 50% Cut in State Funding for Civil Legal Services - 08-12-2008
National Grid Modifies Policy Denying Service to Minors Living Independently - 08-08-2008
PULP Opposes Niagara Mohawk's Interim Gas Efficiency Program -
08-08-2008
A Well Kept Secret: Con Edison's Low Income Rate - 08-07-2008
PULP Demands Full Public Investigation by FERC of NYISO Gaming -
08-02-2008
Platts: NYISO Electricity Market Gaming Cost $290 Million - 08-01-2008
Verizon’s Cable Franchise for NYC Leaves Safety Questions Unanswered 08-01-2008
JULY
PULP Provides Further Proof That Area Code Changes Are Not Needed Now in the 315 Area - 07-31-2008
OTDA Must Relax Its Administrative Restriction on Utility Assistance Loans for Persons with Incomes Above the Public Assistance Level -
07-29-2008
New York Asks Congress to Fully Fund Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program - 07-29-2008
Niagara Mohawk Residential Gas Bills Heading Toward 58% Increase in January 2009 - 07-24-2008
Reform of OTDA Fuel Allowances and Utility Assistance Loan Program is Needed - 07-24-2008
Enron-Like Gaming of NYISO Market Rules: Did it Cost New York Consumers $125 Million? - 07-23-2008
Time of Use Rates and "Smart Meters" - 07-21-2008
PULP Comments on HEAP Plan 2008-2009 - 07-17-2008
It Was the [NYISO] Market - 07-14-2008
PULP's Con Edison Bill Estimator - 07-11-2008
Excelsior! Excelsior! Con Edison Rates Peak Again: Bills Up 30% Since May - 07-11-2008
Digital TV Converter Boxes: Order Your Coupons Today! - 07-09-2008
OTDA to Hold Hearings and Receive Comments on Draft 2008 - 09 HEAP Plan - 07-03-2008
National Grid’s “Grand Plan” May Be Gone, but its “80% Solution” Remains - 07-03-2008
Trouble Ahead: Outlook for Home Heating Costs Worsens - 07-02-2008
State Leaders Discuss Looming Home Energy Crisis - 07-02-2008
JUNE
Legislature Passes Bill Requiring PSC to Review LIPA Rates - 06-27-2008
PSC Approves Grid "Affordability" Program in Which HEAP Payments Do Not Reduce Current Winter Bills - 06-27-2008
Summer NYISO Electricity Prices 123% Higher - 06-27-2008
Supreme Court Leaves Fundamental Questions About FERC Market Rate Scheme Unanswered - 06-26-2008
Consumer Groups Ask PSC for More Input on Verizon Cable Franchise for New York City - 06-19-2008
NYISO Governance - 06-18-2008
Con Edison Electricity Rates for Energy Spike 21% in June - 06-18-2008
NY Assembly Bill Would Use Windfall Recapture Tax on Oil Companies to Supplement HEAP and Weatherization Programs - 06-17-2008
FCC Expands Broadband Data Collection but Sidesteps Affordability Concerns - 06-16-2008
HEAP Can Now Help Fund Air Conditioners - 06-16-2008
FCC Claims "Reasonable and Timely" Broadband Deployment -
06-16-2008
Campaign for Fair Electric Rates Urges Reform of Wholesale Electricity Markets - 06-13-2008
Wages of 30% of New Yorkers Do Not Cover Minimum Needs -6-13-2008
White Plains Landlord Submetering Electricity Without PSC Approval -
06-07-2008
National Grid Misses Point with its Low Income Program - 06-07-2008
Wholesale Electricity Capacity Market Results Attacked by PA, MD, DE and NJ Utility Commissions and Utility Consumer Advocates - 06-05-2008
Early Termination Fees - 06-04-2008
Home Heating Oil Prices Remain High - 06-03-2008
MAY
PULP Files Reply Comments on the PSC’s Proposed ESCO Marketing Standards - 05-30-2008
High Natural Gas Prices Signal Trouble Next Winter for Low Income Customers 05-29-2008
NY Wholesale Electricity Prices May Rise 89% Due to Rising Natural Gas Prices - 05-29-2008
Bill Would Require PSC to More Closely Scrutinize Telephone Area Code Changes - 05-23-2008
Assembly Passes Bill To Expand Low-Income Telephone Lifeline Assistance - 05-23-2008
Should Telecom Customer Migration Rules be Extended to New Carriers? 05-15-2008
NY PSC Asks FERC Not to Limit Access to NYISO Market Data- 5-12-2008
Parties File Statements Supporting Proposed Settlement of Con Edison Queens Outage Prudence Proceeding - 05-12-2008
AMPS, a Submetering Company, Withdraws Request for Court Injunction to Shut off Tenant's Electricity - 05-12-2008
PULP Asks PSC to Reconsider Refusal to Investigate Alternative to New Area Code in 315 - 05-07-2008
HEAP Program to Close in May - 05-01-2008
Protection of Customers of Cooperative Utilities Under Power Authority Regulations - 05-01-2008
APRIL
PSC Denies Request for Open Inquiry and Continues with 315 Area Code Changes - 04-30-2008
Parties Propose Resolution of Con Edison Queens Outage Prudence Proceeding - 04-25-2008
Is There a Need for a "Broadband" Universal Service Fund? - 04-23-2008
FCC to Require Improved Reporting of Broadband Deployment and Subscribership - 04-22-2008
See No Evil: FERC Refuses to Examine Gaming of RTO/ISO Electricity
Spot Market - 04-22-08
National Grid Policy of Denying Utility Service to Minors Challenged - 04-01-2008
MARCH
Landlords Charging Tenants for Utility Service? - 03-28-2008
ESCO Marketing Practices Subject of New PSC Proceeding - 03-28-2008
PSC Puts 315 Area Code Changes on Hold Pending Investigation,
03-24-2008
PSC Nullifies National Grid's $1,000 "Grand Plan" Requirement for Utility Service - 03-19-2008
PULP Asks PSC to Investigate Need for New Telephone Area Codes in the 315 Region - 03-14-2008
PULP Asks PSC to Require National Grid to Provide Answers to Questions in "Grand Plan" Case - 03-14-2008
FCC Orders Telephone Lifeline Providers to Include Digital TV Transition Information in Customer Bills - 03-06-2008
PSC Should Investigate Village of Ilion Utility Deposit Requirement
03-04-2008
Needy Households Must Stop Paying Energy Provider to Obtain Supplemental HEAP Benefits - 03-03-2008
FEBRUARY
PULP Urges HEAP Program Reform - 02-28-2008
Verizon Re-Launches Automatic Enrollment for Lifeline - 02-25-2008
Queens Outage Update: ALJ Requires Con Edison to File Testimony on Prudence and Negligence Issues - 02-25-2008
Residential Submetering Update - 02-22-2008
Governor Spitzer’s Budget Leaves PULP’s Survival to the Legislature -
02-21-2008
Amicus Brief Challenges FERC Refusal to Consider Better Use of Historic Cohoes Falls - 02-12-2008
Bush Proposes Elimination of Low Income Home Weatherization Program - 02-11-2008
Bush Proposes LIHEAP Custs in 2009 Budget - 02-11-2008
New Leadership in State Energy Policy Emerging - 02-07-2008
PULP Files Comments on Regulation of ESCO Sales Practices- 2-04-2008
JANUARY
NFG Directed by PSC to Eliminate Late Charges on Deferred Payment Agreements - 01-16-2008
PULP Files Supreme Court Amicus Brief in Electricity Market Rate Case -
01-14-2008
PSC Requires More Study Before Allowing Major Investment in "Smart Meters" - 01-11-2008
Cornell Professor Gives Low Marks to NYISO Electricity Markets-1-8-2008
PULP Urges NYSERDA to Use RGGI Auction Revenue to Support Low Income Energy Efficiency Programs - 01-07-2008
|
