Hearings set on PSEG plan to reduce energy use

PSEG Long Island takes its $200 million plan for reducing the region's energy use on the road beginning this week, with information sessions and public hearings from Far Rockaway to East Hampton.

The PSEG plan seeks to cut 185 megawatts of demand from the system over the next decade, around half the output of a large power plant. PSEG will invest $200 million to finance the plan, and recoup its costs plus a profit of $122 million, collected through rates over 10 years. PSEG says the measures will reduce system costs and largely pay for themselves. If approved, the plan would recover those costs through rates beginning in 2016.

The 10-year plan calls for spending $60 million to install devices in homes and businesses that let the utility remotely adjust air conditioners and pool pumps to reduce electric use; $45 million to install large commercial solar-power systems; $8 million to educate home users on reducing energy, and $30 million each for hospitals and lower-income customers for energy efficiency measures.

The plan comes on the heels of a PSEG review of LIPA's power sources that found the utility had an average of 528 megawatts of surplus power between 2005 and 2013, an excess that cost ratepayers an estimated $640 million. PSEG has requested that LIPA suspend most new power projects, including the 752-megawatt Caithness II power plant and a 280-megawatt renewable energy proposal. Meanwhile, PSEG proposes to create a new integrated resources plan over the next 12 to 18 months.

Here is a list of the planned hearings:

Tuesday, Aug. 19

William H. Rogers Legislative Building

725 Veterans Memorial Highway

Smithtown

1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. - Information Sessions

2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. - Public Statement Hearings

Wednesday, Aug. 20

Theodore Roosevelt Executive and Legislative Building

Legislative Chambers

1550 Franklin Avenue

Mineola

1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. - Information Sessions

2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. - Public Statement Hearings

Thursday, Aug. 21

Knights of Columbus Hall

333 Beach 90th Street

Rockaway Beach

6:30 p.m. - Information Session

7:30 p.m. - Public Statement Hearing

Tuesday, August 26

Riverhead Legislative Auditorium

Evans K. Griffin Building

Maxine Postal Legislative Auditorium

300 Center Drive

Riverhead

10:30 a.m. - Information Session

11:30 a.m. - Public Statement Hearing

Tuesday, Aug. 26

Village of East Hampton Emergency Services Building

Trustee Meeting Room-2nd Floor

One Cedar Street

East Hampton

5 p.m. - Information Session

6 p.m. - Public Statement Hearing