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07/28/06 16:33

News from The State of New York Public Service Commission

For more information: (518) 474-7080, www.dps.state.ny.us

PSC ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING QUEENS POWER OUTAGE

ALBANY, NY -- (07/28/2006; 1610)(EIS) -- The New York State Public
Service Commission today announced an additional hearing to take
statements from affected customers and other interested parties on
issues related to the Long Island City power outage. The date,
location and time for the public hearing are as follows:

Thursday, August 3, 2006 -- The Steinway Intermediate School 141,
(Auditorium), 37-11 21st Avenue, Astoria, N.Y., 6:00 p.m.

Previously announced hearings for the public regarding the Long Island
City power outage, include:

Wednesday, August 9, 2006 -- The Steinway Intermediate School 141,
(Auditorium), 37-11 21st Avenue, Astoria, N.Y., 1:00 p.m. and 7:00
p.m.

Thursday, August 10, 2006 -- LaGuardia Community College, (Main Stage
Theatre), 31-10 Thomson Avenue, Long Island City, N.Y., 1:00 p.m and
7:00 p.m.

The Public Service Commission is particularly interested in comments
from customers that address the following questions:

-- How, exactly, were you affected by the outages?

-- Do you think you received timely, accurate and adequate information
from the company or otherwise about what was happening before, during
and after the service outages?

-- Did you attempt to contact the company for information or
assistance immediately before, during or after the outages, and did
you get what you were requesting?

-- What are your overall impressions about how the company responded
to the outages and your reasons for those impressions?

-- What are your recommendations about actions you believe the company
should or should not have taken before, during and after the service
interruptions?

-- What actions do you recommend the Commission take in light of all
that you know about these events?

It is not necessary to make an appointment in advance in order to
speak. Speakers will be called after completing a card requesting time
to speak when they sign in at the door. All public statements will be
transcribed by a stenographer. It is not necessary to submit written
statements, and all statements - either written or oral - will be
included in the formal record of the investigation for consideration
by the Commission. The hearings will remain open for at least one hour
and will continue until everyone wishing to speak has been heard or
other reasonable arrangements are made.

Disabled persons who may require special accommodations should contact
the Department of Public Service's Human Resource Management Office at
(518)-474-2520.

Other Ways to Comment

Interested persons not wishing to attend or who are unable to attend
the public statement hearings may comment (in English or Spanish) on
the Queens power outage by mailing their written statements to:
Honorable Jaclyn A. Brilling, Secretary, New York State Public Service
Commission, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York 12223-1350.
Statements should reference "Case 06-E-0894?Order Instituting
Proceeding and Directing Staff Investigation" and should be received
as soon as possible.

Other alternatives available for submitting comments for consideration
include:

Toll-free Opinion Line: Interested persons may call a special
toll-free Opinion Line at 1-800-335-2120. This phone line is set up to
receive comments about the proceeding from in-state callers, 24
hours-a-day. Callers should select English or Spanish and press "1" to
leave comments about the Con Edison case.

Internet: Comments also may be submitted via the "PSC Comment Form,"
in the "Contact Us" file, accessed through the homepage of the
Commission's Consumer Web site. The Web site address is
http://www.AskPSC.com and comments are downloaded regularly. Many
libraries offer free internet access.

All statements and comments received will be considered by staff in
its investigation and will be placed in the public case file and made
available for public inspections in the Commission's file room.

On July 27, 2006, Public Service Commission Chairman William M. Flynn
issued a one-commissioner order to initiate a formal proceeding and
investigation (Case 06-E-0894) to examine thoroughly all issues
associated with the power outages in Consolidated Edison's Long Island
City network that began on July 17, 2006. A copy of the Commission's
written order instituting its investigation of the customer outages in
Queens (Case 06-E-0894) can be obtained from the Commission's Web site
at http://dps.state.ny.us by accessing the PSC Fileroom section from
the homepage. Many public libraries offer free Internet access. The
order also is available at the Commission's files Office, 14rh floor,
3 Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12223 (518-474-2500).

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