ALBANY – In an effort to ease the financial hardship to its customers caused by COVID-19, Suez water has asked the State Public Service Commission to postpone its proposed rate increase to October 1.
In January, several parties, including SUEZ, filed a joint proposal in SUEZ’s current rate case that, if adopted by the PSC, would establish a new rate plan for the company’s water services for four years beginning on June 1, 2020. The plan applies to SUEZ’s 500,000 customers in Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Orange and Tioga counties, a region that has been dramatically affected by the COVID-19 health crisis.
“The health and wellbeing of our customers and the continuity of our water service are our top priorities,” said Chris Graziano, vice president and general manager of SUEZ New York operations. “We activated our preparedness plan several weeks ago and we’re following guidance from our local, state and federal agencies, including the CDC and other health organizations. We are hopeful that the Public Service Commission will delay this rate increase in order to help customers who are facing financial difficulties due to the COVID-19 crisis.”
The company has already instituted additional precautions to protect the health and safety of customers and employees. SUEZ offices are closed to the public during the duration of the crisis and customers who pay their bills in person at SUEZ offices must now pay their bills online, by mail, by phone or at third party payment centers. The company also announced it will not shut off service to any customers for the duration of this crisis.
Governor Andrew Cuomo declared a state of emergency earlier this month and issued a “New York on Pause” Executive Order on March 20 that requires all non-essential businesses statewide to suspend in-office personnel functions and bans all non-essential gatherings of people of any size for any reason. Consequently, many people in the service territory may be temporarily furloughed or operating on a reduced work schedule. SUEZ’s service territory includes New Rochelle, which was the site of the nation’s first containment zone designed to limit the spread of the virus.
The proposed rate filing includes $440 million to make substantial improvements to infrastructure that will improve water quality, service reliability, security and to meet changing regulations. The plan also includes a request that the company’s customers in Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Orange and Tioga counties be merged under one company.
