2004 Yellow Book
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DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SERVICE (Summary) View Details

		Adjusted Appropriation 2003-04	Executive Request 2004-05	Change	Percent Change

AGENCY SUMMARY
	Special Revenue-Other	64,512,000	68,107,000	3,595,000	5.6%
	Special Revenue-Federal	1,700,000	1,611,000	(89,000)	-5.2%
Total for AGENCY SUMMARY:		66,212,000	69,718,000	3,506,000	5.3%

* 2000-01 through 2002-03 reflect enacted appropriations. * 2003-04 and 2004-05 reflect Executive recommended appropriations.

ALL FUNDS PERSONNEL BUDGETED FILL LEVELS
Fund	Current 2003-04	Requested 2004-05	Change

All Other Funds:	545	545	0
TOTAL:	545	545	0

Budget Highlights

The Department of Public Service (DPS) is the staff arm of the Public Service Commission (PSC) and has the mandate of ensuring that all New Yorkers have access to reliable and low cost utility services. The PSC is responsible for regulating rates and services of the State's public utilities (electric, gas, steam, telephone and water companies), overseeing the siting of major electric and gas transmission lines and facilities, and ensuring the safety of natural gas and liquid petroleum pipelines. As a result of legislation enacted in 1996, the Department's mandate was expanded to include the oversight and regulation of the cable television industry. Most of the Department's staff is financed by utility and cable assessments pursuant to Section 18-a of the Public Service Law. The remainder are financed by Federal grants and coin-operated customer-owned telephone fees.

The Department of Public Service is included in the Transportation, Economic Development and Environmental Conservation appropriation bill.

State Operations

The Governor recommends All Funds appropriations for State Operations of $69,718,000 for State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2004-05, reflecting a $3,506,000 net increase from SFY 2003- 04, or 5.3 percent. The Governor proposes an overall staffing level for the Department of 545 in SFY 2003-04, representing no change from SFY 2003-04.

The Governor also recommends the enactment of a $300,000 deficiency appropriation bill to provide authorization to spend federal grant award funds for the Pipeline Safety Program.

Overall net increases in State Operations appropriations are based on the following funding changes within the Department:

a decrease of $89,000 in Special Revenue Funds - Federal for the Pipeline Safety Grant Account;

an increase of $596,000 in Special Revenue Funds - Other for administration resulting from an increase in fringe costs; and

$2,999,000 in Special Revenue Funds – Other for an increase attributable to rising fringe costs as well as non-personal service costs.

Aid to Localities

The Governor recommends a Special Revenue Fund-Other appropriation of $400,000 in the Electric Generating Intervenor Account, reflecting no change from SFY 2003-04. These monies are intended to support municipal and other parties' activities related to proposed electric generation facility siting. This appropriation assumes the reauthorization of Article 10 of the Public Service Law. The Governor also recommends a $16,000 sweep to the General Fund from the interest generated on the Intervenor Account.

Article VII Legislation

The Governor proposes Article VII legislation to authorize programs to be funded through utility assessments. Funding is provided for programs and activities in the following agencies: the Departments of Economic Development, Environmental Conservation, Agriculture and Markets, the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the Consumer Protection Board and the Office of Public Security. The Executive expects that these funds will total $79,000,000 in SFY 2004-05. In addition, the Executive proposes to provide $454,000 in funding from the Cable Television Account for the Department of Health

The Governor proposes legislation to authorize the Public Service Commission to direct revenues from the Customer Owned Currency Operated Telephones (COCOTS) Enforcement Fund to the General Fund, and to remove the current sunset date of March 31, 2006. This legislation also proposes to redirect monies recovered from penalties remitted to the Underground Facilities Safety Training Account to the General Fund. The Executive projects that the enactment of this legislation will provide $487,000 in General Fund savings.

Finally, the Governor also proposes to increase the fee paid by nuclear electric generating facility operators to support local and State radiological nuclear preparedness activities. Under the proposal, the current fee would be increased from $550,000 to $950,000, which the Executive projects would create $2.4 million in new revenue. Half the revenue would be dedicated to the State Emergency Management Office, and the other half would be divided among local communities near nuclear facilities.

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