PULP News

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Universal Service, Affordability, and Customer Protection for Residential Utility Consumers.

PULP NEWS

“PULP News” provides information of interest to residential utility consumers and those who advocate for them. Here we post PULP Newsletters, articles, reports, and other documents about current state and national developments. For additional material regarding current issues involving particular New York utilities and their customers, click on the New York Utilites button on the left.

PULPs e-mail Newsletter provide updates on current utility and energy issues. Sign up today for e-mail newsletter delivery.

Still in the dark over blackout - Middletown Herald - 11-21-2003

Officials Boycott Blackout Hearing - Newsday - 11-20-2003

LIPA mulls suing FirstEnergy for blackout damages - Reuters - 11-20-03

2 Major Unions Oppose Energy Bill on Eve of Senate Vote - Washington Post - 11-21-2003

ENGEL: MAKE FIRM PAY N.Y. FOR BLACKOUT - NY Post - 11-20-2003

MTBE flap may stall energy bill - Gasoline additive still found in Broome soil -Binghamton Sun Bulletin - 11-20-2003

NiMo to hold deposit hearing - Syracuse Post Standard - 11-18-2003

Public Service Commission Security Deposit Plan Aired At Hearing - Buffalo News - 11-18-2003

Report on Blackout Is Said To Describe Failure To React - NY Times - 11-12-2003

Public hearing set on new plan for NiMo security deposits - The Buffalo News - 11-12-2003

Another try by Niagara Mohawk on security deposit policy - Associated Press - 11-11-2003

Rate Case Puts Spotlight On Consumers’ Counsel - Cleveland Plain Dealer - 11-10-2003

The GOP Energy Bill: An Infinite Mirage and a Boundless Facade"
U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd - 11-10-2003

Blackout Report to be Released Nov. 18. - 11-10-2003

Feds Deny New York’s Request For More Blackout Aid, Capping Relief at $5 million - Associated Press - 11-07-2003

Another Electricity Deregulation Delay - Canada Press - 11-07-2003

Agway expects to sell its energy subsidiary - Post Standard - 11-06-2003

Independent Power Producers May Have Played Key Role in Largest U.S. Outage - Akron Beacon Journal - 11-05-2003

Michigan PSC Issues State Report on Blackout - 11/05/2003

How Unlikely Coalition Scuttled Plan to Remake Electrical Grid ... - Wall Street Journal - 11-04-2003

FERC mulls steps to clean up energy price reports - Reuters - 11-04-2003

Montana Looks at Re-Regulating Energy- Billings Gazette - 11-04-2003

As Earth Warms, The Hottest Issue Is Energy - NY Times - 11-04-2003

LIPA Vows to Fight Plan to Raise Fee - Newsday - 11-04-2003

Help is available for low-income households facing high winter heating bills. - Kingston Daily Freeman - 11-03-2003

Customers hedging bets on heat costs - Times Union - 11-03-2003

The Myth of the Transmission Deficit - Fortnightly - 11-01-2003

October

During blackout, `we got it right' says N.E. power chief - Newsday - 10-29-2003

Blackout cost NYC $1 billion, shows 911 flaws-Mayor - Reuters - 10-28-2003

U.S. energy bill dupes the public - The Atlanta Journal Constitution - 10-28-2003

Russell Station on 'dirty' list - Democrat & Chronical - 10-28-2003

Entergy issues warning to minority neighborhoods - The Journal News - 10-24-2003

Council Looks To Aid Bizleft in Red by Blackout - The Daily News - 10-21-2003

Silver and Tonko ask members of Congress to strengthen energy bill -10-17-2003

PSC Chairman Affirms Deregulation Support - Times Union - 10-17-2003

Utilities Held Down Spending On Upkeep - Washington Post - 10-17-2003

Bury wires, lawmakers say - Daily Freeman - 10-16-2003

Emails show Enron may have influenced FERC probe on California power crisis, refunds - Online Journal - 10-15-2003

Getting Hydroelectric Plant Up and Running Again More Than A Job - It's A Passion - The Saratoga Record - 10-14-2003

Why City Natural Gas Prices May Rise This Heating Season - Gotham Gazette - 10-13-2003

Schwarzenegger Backs Renewables, SMD- Wind Energy Weekly - 10-13-2003

Power Line Planned Through Region - Utica Observer Dispatch - 10-10-2003
Utilities: Albany's gridlock snares energy grid - Associated Press - 10-09-2003
Energy Association says New York must do more to protect energy infrastructure at public hearing today. - Energy Association Press Release10-09-2003

Testimony of George C. Loehr on Blackout and Grid Reliability - NYS Assembly - 10/09/03

Assembly Ready To Free Up Money - 10-08-2003

Heat Prices May Rise This Winter - Oneonta Daily Star - 10-07-2003

Enron Seeks Millions for Power Never Delivered to Sierra Pacific - NY Times - 10-06-2003

Winter Forecast: High Heating Bills Again - Buffalo News - 10-02-2003

Major New York Gas Companies Typical Monthly Residential Bill Chart - July 1994-Jan 2003- 10-02-2003

Mass Electric gets $4.8M fine for Power Outages - Boston Herald - 10-01-2003

CFTC Complaint Against AEP and AEP Subsidiary for False Reporting of Gas Trades to Manipulate Price Indexes - 10-01-2003

RG&E Plans $75 Million Transmission Upgrade - Democrat & Chronicle - 10-1-2003

September

Montana PSC Orders Energy West to Drop New Ventures and Re-focus on Pure Utility Business - Great Falls Tribune - 09/30/03

New England AGs and Consumer Advocates Oppose New England RTO Formation - 09-30-2003
Massachusetts Attorney General Tom Reilly joined with Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick Lynch, Connecticut Consumer Counsel Mary Healey, New Hampshire Consumer Advocate Michael Holmes and Maine Public Advocate Stephen Ward in opposing ISO New England's plans to create an RTO.
NEPOOL Press Release
’Synapse Report - FERCs Transmission Pricing Policy

Why the lights go out: free-market frugality, freakish weather, no standby power - The Guardian - 09-29-2003

1-800 Cash Cow - Metroland - 09-25-2003

Natural-Gas Customers Can Expect Price Hike - Press & Sun Bulletin - 09-24-2003

Power Agency Gets Watt For From Activists-Daily News-09-23-2003

Elusive Force May Lie at Root of Blackout "[A] consensus has emerged that market-driven problems with reactive power existed that day and played into the blackout." - - NY Times - 09-23-2003
"Dr. Megavars Explains it All" - Press Release - 09-23-2003

Transmission grid switches installed in '01 kept Chicago from going dark on Aug. 14 - Bloomberg News - 09-19-2003

State Power Grid Leader Urges Changes - Times Union - 09-19-2003

NASUCA Comments on Price Discovery in Natuarl Gas and Electric Markets - 09-16-03

Connecticut Attorney General Says New Power Line Will Raise Electricity Rates - The Hartford Courant - 09-17-2003

Utility Shifts Target In Deposit Plan - Time Union - 09-17-2003

NiMo adopts new proposal on security deposits based on unpaid bills - Buffalo News - 09-15-2003

NY Transmission Owners Ask FERC to Eliminate Damage Liability Arising from Ordinary Negligence - 09/15/2003

State Senators In Session To Pass Funding - 09-15-2003

Millions Live Without Water, Gas or Power - The Observer - 09-14-2003

Refines Deposit Policy - Syracuse Post Standard - 09-13-2003

True or False: Con Ed to Pay For Blackout Food Spoilage - NY Times - 09-11-2003

Critics of state power industry push for reform - Times Union - 09-11-2003

Rhode Island Attorney General Comments on ISO-NE Spot Market Issues- 09-10-2003

1-amp Fuse Blamed For Blackout - ITV.com - 09-10-2003

’PULPs Comments on Proposed MCI Rates for Calls Received from Prison Inmates - 09-10-2003

Paperwork Snag Threatens To Unplug Power Plan- Times Union - 09-09-2003

Pataki Withholds Pork Barrel Money - Ottaway News - 09-09-2003

Rents, utilities rise 20 percent, new study finds - Middletown Times Herald Record - 09-09-2003

Typical Residential Bills Including State GRT - July 1994-Jan. 2003 - 09-05-2003
By Company
Consolidated Edison Typical Monthly Residential Bills Chart
Orange & Rockland Utilities
Niagara Mohawk Power Corp.
New York State Electric & Gas
Rochester Gas & Electric

’PSC Order Denying PULPs Petition for Rehearing - 09-02-2003

NASUCA Reply Comments to FCC on Telephone Lifeline Eligibility and Automatic Enrollment - 09-02-2003

August

Power Plant A Shutdown Target- Rochester Democrat & Chronicle - 08-21-2003

BLACKOUT 2003: Business Seeks To Speed Plants - 08-19-2003

City Power Plants Being Expanded - 08-18-2003

NASUCA Comments on Proposal to Add Anti-Manipulation Conditions to FERC Market Rate Authorizations - 08-18-2003

Comments of Colorado, Utah, New Mexico State Utility Consumer Advocates, NCLC PULPand Public Citizen on Proposal to Add Anti-Manipulation Conditions to FERC Market Rate Authorizations- 08-18-2003

Critics Question Utility Deregulation - 08-17-2003

O&R Wants To Raise Rates For Gas Service In Stages - 08-12-2003

’Albany County Social Services Commissioners Comments On Proposed Niagara Mohawk Deposit Policies - 08-05-2003

Letter of Assembly Energy Committee Chairman To PSC Regarding Niagara Mohawk Deposit Policies- 08-05-2003

’Where Credit Isnt Due- Capital Region Metroland - 08-05-2003

July

Consumer Protection Developments in New York State's Retail Electricity and Natural Gas Markets - 07-19-2003

PSC to Hold Additional Public Statement Hearing on NIMO Deposit Policy in Albany on August 5 - 07-18-2003

Appellate Division Upholds Individual Business Rates, 07-17-2003

AARP Report on Credit Scoring
CFA Report:Credit Score Accuracy and Implications for
Consumers - 12-17-2002

State DSS Commissioner Asks PSC Not to Adopt Proposed NiMO Deposit Rule - 07-15-2003

McHugh Demands Promise From Leaders To Increase LIHEAP Funding - 07-15-2003

There Is Life After Enron - 07-14-2003

Greenspan Says Costlier Energy To Hit U.S. Households-07-10-2003

’PSC Seeks Public Comment on Niagara Mohawks Proposed Security Deposit Policy - Press Release - 07-08-2003

New York Grid CEO Says New Power Lines, State Authority Needed - RJ Rudden Report - 07-07-2003

Charts Showing Investment by New York Electric Utilities in Transmission Plant and Distribution Plant 1991-2001 - 07-03-2003

Panel Concludes: Electric Retail Consumers Make Needs Known - 07-01-2003

JUNE

Manging Default Service To Provide Consumer Benefits In Restructured States: Avoiding Short-Term Price Volatility - Barbara R. Alexander - 06-30-2003

Family Flees Blaze Caused By Candle, Fire Official Says- 06-28-2003

NiMo Shelves Deposit Policy For 2 Months - 06-27-2003

Electricity Price Spike Expected - 06-26-2003

4,100 Customers Lose Power - 06-26-2003

Warming Up to the Elderly and Low Income - 06-25-2003

PSC Order Regarding Implementation of Energy Consumer Protection Act of 2002 - 06-20-2003

Commission Implements Consumer Protections In Energy Market - New Law Protects All Residential Customers in the Competitive Market - PSC Press Release - 06-18-2003

NiMo's Deposit Policy Faulted - “Speakers Blast NiMo Deposit Policy; Service was refused to 1,000 applicants” The Post Standard - 06-18-2003

UTILITY - Security deposits - One out of every four new customers of Niagara Mohawk could be affected by proposed security deposit requirements based on their credit history - 06-17-2003

Short Supply of Natural Gas Raises Economic Worries - 06-17-2003

Costly Forecast - 06-17-2003

New York Unveils Clean Air Act Settlement With Mirant- 06-11-2003

LIPA: Hot Weather Could Spark Shortages - 06-11-2003

Greenspan Predicts High Natural Gas Prices Into Next Year - 06-11-2003

PSC To Hold Hearing On Security Deposits- 06-07-2003

Notice of Public Hearings on New NiMo Deposit Policies in Buffalo, Syracuse and Bethlehem - 06-03-2003
The PSC is holding Public Hearings in Buffalo on June16, 2003;
in Syracuse on June 17th, 2003 and in Bethlehem on July 16, 2003
to receive public comments on the proposed deposit policies

Commentary on DOE Study of Standard Market Design, Alliance of State Leaders Protecting Electricity Consumers - 06-2003

Private Energy Users Get New Protections - AARP Bulletin - 06-2003

PSC Invites Public Comment on Proposed Plattsburgh Municipal Electric Rate Increase - 06-05-2003

May The FERC Rely On Markets To Set Electric Rates? - Energy Law Journal - 06-2003

NiMo Expects Adequate Power - Associated Press - 06-05-2003

MAY

UTILITY $OAKED FEDS: STAFF- New York Post - 05-29-2003

A Mixed Message On Solar Power - Newsday - 05-29-2003

Local Residents Received HEAP of Energy Aid This Past Winter - 05-28-2003

LIPA: Growing Pains at 5 Years- 05-28-2003

RG&E Seeks Big Rate Hike - Democrat and Chronicle - 05-21-2003

NiMo Revises Security Deposit Policy - The Post-Standard - 05-21-2003

NiMo, State Agree On Security Deposit Plan - Times Union - 05-21-2003

Natural Gas Wholesale Prices Expected to Rise, Perhaps to Unprecedented Levels - Richmond Times-Dispatch- 05-16-2003

’New York Throws A Curve: ISOs New ICAP Scheme Seen As Subsidy for the Gen Sector - Fortnightly - 05-15-03

NRG Energy Files for Chapter 11 Protection - The Post Standard - 05-15-2003

Digital Age Hits a Delay in Schools - Times Union - 05-14-2003

SEC Finds Reliant Violated Securities Laws In Using Bogus Power Swaps To Inflate Revenues- Associated Press - 05-12-2003

NiMo Deposit Requirement Unfair - Syracuse Post Standard - 05-12-2003

What price power hook-up? - Schenectady Gazette - 05-12-2003

Utilities Test Potentially Revolutionary High-Speed Data Transmission
System - The Baltimore Sun - 05-11-2003

Lawmakers Ask Review of NiMo Deposit Rules - Associated Press - 05-09-2003

Legislators Critical of NiMo Policy - Syracuse Post Standard - 05-09-2003

Utility Regulators Expect Major Federal-State Conflicts over Electricity Reforms - 05-08-2003

Could Oswego Become Windmill Capital Of NY? - 05-07-2003

In Most Areas, Power Lines Are Expected to Hum Smoothly- 05-06-2003

PSC to Consider Impact of Rate Design on Energy Efficiency- 05-05-2003

Protecting Customers in an Electric Market That Isn't Working Very Well, Hewlett Fdn, 2003 - 05-05-2003

International Energy Outlook Report- Department of Energy - 05-02-2003

State Bar Foundation Awards Grant To PULP for Website Information - NYSBA Pro Bono News - Spring, 2003

FERC Orders Companies to Report Accurate Gas Prices- 05-02-2003

Indian Point Plants Restarted After Fire and Power Failure - 05-01-2003

APRIL

Indian Point Shut Units After Fire, Power Glitch - 04-30-2003

State Power Authority to Raise Rates - 04-30-2003

Con Edison to Buy Power From New Queens Plant - 04-29-2003

Con Edison Energy Marketing Subsidiary Asks PJM to Raise Wholesale Electric Rate Limits - 04-24-2003

PULP Press Release - National Electricity Panel Recommends Policies to Protect Electricity Consumers from Price Spikes - 04-24-2003

Consumer Energy Council of America, "Positioning the Consumer for the Future: A Road Map to an Optimized Electric Power System,"Executive Summary - 04-24-2003
Order form and information
CECA Press Release - 04-24-2003

NiMo to Demand Two-Month Deposit- The Post Standard - 04-22-2003

Electric Utility Deregulation Saves Texans Money, Costs Them Inconveniences- 04-18-2003

NYSEG Customers Find Few Choices - 04-17-2003

Energy Bar Association Summary of Federal Energy-Related Court Opinions in 2002 - 04-18-2003

NiMo Policy May Raise Welfare Costs - The Post Star - 04-16-2003

New Policy Is All About Power - The Post Star - 04-16-2003

Croat Government Approves Customer Protection Law - 04-10-2003

California Lawmakers Propose Reversal of Energy Deregulation - 04-10-2003

Calif. State Bill Looks To Re-regulate Power Mkt- 04-09-2003

Electric, Gas Bills Shock Ratepayers - 04-03-2003

Natural-gas Prices Expected To Stay High Through Summer - 04-03-2003

MARCH

Deregulating Electricity Hurt Users - Consumer Federation of America - 03-2003

Testimony of Gerald A. Norlander for NASUCA on Proposed Electricity Legislation before the Senate Committee On Energy And Natural Resources - 03-26-03

Ruling Favors Utility Centers - Democrat and Chronicle - 03-26-2003

NYSEG Ordered To Keep Walk-ins Open - Gannett News - 03-26-2003

Order Instituting Proceeding and Directing New York State Electric & Gas Coproration to Suspend Closure of its Customer Service Centers - 03/24/2003

"In order to protect NYSEG's customers' rights and interests while this proceeding is pending, PULP's request for a stay is appropriate. Pending the Commission's decision in this proceeding, NYSEG shall continue the full operation of its Centers and refrain from taking any measures related to closure of the Centers, such as relocating employees or announcing specific closure dates."

Testimony of Gerald Norlander on Draft Energy Bill to House Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality - 03-14-2003