AGENCY TESTIMONY
DEP's perspective on Intro 816: Notification of rental payments
0:45:14
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82 sec
The commissioner presents DEP's perspective on Intro 816, which would require notification about Water Board rental payments. He outlines concerns and alternative approaches to achieving the bill's objectives.
- DEP agrees that people should understand what their water rate payments are spent on
- Concerns include the cost of dedicated first-class mailings and the unpredictability of rental payment requests
- DEP does not set water rates; they are set by the Water Board through a public process
- The rental payment is not the only factor in rate setting
- DEP is exploring ways to inform New Yorkers about how their water bills are spent, similar to other utilities
Rohit T Aggarwala
0:45:14
Intro-816 would require DEP to notify by 1st class mail all owners of property with water sewer service when the city requests a rental payment on a strict timeline.
0:45:24
I certainly agree.
0:45:25
That people should understand what their water rate payments are spent on.
0:45:29
I would like to work with the council though on the details.
0:45:32
For example, a dedicated first class mailing would cost about $1,000,000.
0:45:36
Further, under the city's lease to the water board, we do not actually always know when the will request a rental payment.
0:45:43
Above all, DEP does not set water rates, rather they are set as the chair noted, every year by the water board through a legally prescribed process that requires public hearings and notices.
0:45:53
The waterboard is a state entity as the chair noted.
0:45:56
It is also important to note that the rental payment, if there is one, is not the only factor that is included in rate setting.
0:46:02
As is illustrated in the chart included in the testimony, from our fiscal year 25 rate hearings earlier this year.
0:46:11
We have already been exploring the potential to let New Yorkers know how their water bills are being spent as many other utilities do.
0:46:18
An example of what that might look like is in the testimony.
0:46:21
If ratepayers understand what their payments are going to, they would have the context to be more informed when looking at rate proposals for future years.
0:46:30
Entro 900 would require DEP to install 500 drinking fountains around the city by 2030.
