Orange and Rockland Utilities has expressed "extreme disappointment" with a preliminary decision issued by a judge at the New York Public Service Commission that concerns O&R's proposed electric restructuring settlement. (See, Case 96-E-0900, Opinion No. 96-12.)
On July 2, Administrative Law Judge Stewart C. Boschwitz ruled that unwillingness by O&R to divest its generation company would create potential anti-competitive situations and could hurt ratepayers. The ALJ had said that O&R could choose to divest its GENCO or else keep the affiliate and compensate ratepayers for associated risks.
The restructuring settlement calls for O&R to provide full retail access by May 1, 1999.
"We are deeply disappointed that our agreement - with the most aggressive timetable for introducing customer choice among all New York utilities and among the most aggressive nationwide - has been potentially jeopardized by this recommended decision," said D. Louis Peoples, O&R's vice chair and CEO.