New City, NY, – County Executive Ed Day wrote to the New York State Public Service Commission today to request a review of the proposed acquisition of Suez Water NY by Veolia to determine if it is in the best interests of Rockland County ratepayers and to request that the Department of Public Service study the feasibility of municipalizing all or part of Suez Water NY’s Rockland assets and operations.
“According to the 2017 “Drinking Water Systems in New York” Report by the Office of the New York State Comptroller, Suez Water NY’s ratepayers pay some of the highest costs in New York for their water. These rates must not be allowed to climb further as residents contend with the rising cost of living in New York due to myriad factors,” wrote County Executive Day in the letter.
The letter is attached, and the full text is included below.
Full text:
October 25, 2021
Hon. Michelle L. Phillips
Secretary to the Commission
New York State Public Service Commission
Empire State Plaza
Agency Building 3
Albany, NY 12223-1350
Re: Review of Suez Water NY Acquisition and Feasibility Study of Public Water Supply Ownership
To whom it may concern:
I am writing to respectfully request that you fully review the proposed acquisition of Suez Water NY by Veolia to determine if it is in the best interests of Rockland County ratepayers. According to the 2017 “Drinking Water Systems in New York” Report by the Office of the New York State Comptroller, Suez Water NY’s ratepayers pay some of the highest costs in New York for their water. These rates must not be allowed to climb further as residents contend with the rising cost of living in New York due to myriad factors.
As such, I additionally request that the Department of Public Service study the feasibility of municipalizing all or part of Suez Water NY’s Rockland assets and operations. However, I have specific concerns about this possibility related to the impact on municipal and school property tax bills, the cost of future infrastructure improvements including the cost of meeting PFOA/PFOS drinking water standards and the total cost of purchasing Suez Water NY assets.
Rockland County is one of the most expensive places to live in our country and it is critical that we begin to comprehensively address the causes and factors behind this issue. I thank you for your attention and action on these requests.
Sincerely,
Edwin J. Day
Rockland County Executive