Situation
The New York Public Service Commission established a recurring long-term gas planning process requiring utilities to explain how they would maintain safe, reliable, and affordable service while responding to the state’s evolving policy and emissions objectives. The New York Department of Public Service Staff sought independent technical and economic support to evaluate plans filed by National Fuel Gas, New York State Electric & Gas, Rochester Gas and Electric, and Liberty Utilities’ St. Lawrence Gas operation.
Approach
CRA’s Energy team served as an independent evaluator of the four utilities’ long-term plans across three distinct engagements. We reviewed demand and design-day forecasts, supply portfolios, capital investment plans, infrastructure needs, policy scenarios, non-pipeline alternatives, and proposed uses of lower-carbon fuels. CRA also evaluated the consistency of assumptions and results across the plans, assessed compliance with the Commission’s Gas Planning Order, and examined the reliability, affordability, and emissions implications of proposed planning pathways. In parallel, CRA supported the stakeholder process through data requests, technical conferences, scenario evaluation, hydraulic modeling exercises, and public reports presenting findings and proposed revisions.
Result
For each utility review, CRA developed a series of public reports that provided Department Staff, the Commission, utilities, and stakeholders with an independent evidentiary basis for evaluating and improving the plans. CRA’s findings and recommendations informed Commission consideration of forecasting methods, infrastructure investments, non-pipeline alternatives, demand-response and electrification pilots, lower-carbon fuels, and future reporting requirements. The sustained, multi-utility engagement established a consistent and transparent approach to reviewing long-term gas planning across New York.
