The New York State Public Service Commission has instructed Corning Natural Gas Corporation to provide more detailed information about its renewable natural gas purchases and to enhance its modeling and forecasting methods over the next five years. This directive is part of the company’s final long-term gas plan.
Commission Chair Rory M. Christian stated, “Staff’s analysis identified a need for the company to provide additional information and reports on renewable natural gas purchases, modeling of distribution pressures and gas quality, differentiated natural gas purchases, demand forecasting accuracy, and coordination with the local electric utility on non-pipes alternatives. The gas planning procedures we have adopted will ensure that gas utilities continue to provide safe, adequate, and reliable service while striving to meet the state’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets.”
Corning Natural Gas Corporation operates nearly 450 miles of pipeline and serves about 15,000 customers across 23 towns and villages in the Southern Tier and central regions of New York State. The Commission’s decision requires Corning to include these new reporting elements in its periodic updates as part of an ongoing effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from New York’s natural gas delivery system.
In addition to reporting requirements on renewable natural gas purchases and other areas such as distribution pressure modeling and demand forecasting accuracy, Corning is also expected to use appropriate price forecasts in benefit-cost analyses for future filings. The Commission emphasized that these steps are intended to bring transparency to long-term plans for local gas distribution companies while ensuring they align with state policy objectives.
Utilities like Corning must submit proposed long-term plans for review by stakeholders before a consensus plan is developed. They are also required to update their plans annually.
Further details about today’s decisions can be found by searching Case Number 24-G-0629 on the Commission Documents section at www.dps.ny.gov.
