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| PUSH supporters rally against National Fuel's program |
and Ken Obstarczyk
Bengal News reporters
West Side residents and PUSH Buffalo, People United for Sustainable Housing, are preparing for a final fight against a local utility.
PUSH is tied up in a battle with National Fuel over the renewal of its Conservation Incentive Program, CIP.
CIP is a set of conservation initiatives with four major components: appliance rebates, lowering usage for low-income customers, education and valuation. CIP was initiated in 2007 as a three-year program funded at $10.8 million annually. If the program were renewed, funding would be $10.09 million through a delivery modification charge.
The formal review period for renewal of the CIP ends on Dec. 1. The New York State Public Service Commission will make its final decision on whether it plans to accept the extension of the CIP, or put it on hold for further review sometime after the review period ends.
In a letter sent Sept. 2 to Public Service Commission chairman Garry A. Brown and PUSH executive director Aaron Bartley. National Fuel outlined a revision of the CIP in a letter.
The new version includes more weatherization efforts in low-income neighborhoods and project contractors to be required to hire workers from high-poverty census tracts.
PUSH members are upset because less than a third of the $10.09 million funding the CIP benefits low-income customers $2.94 million total.
Bartley expressed his frustration with National Fuel’s approach.
“We don’t even know where some of the resources are going right now,” Bartley said.
“That’s a critical part of our proposal -- we need to see how these monies are being spent and what zip codes are getting them.”
People involved in this issue think PUSH may have taken its cause a little too far.
On Sept. 21, National Fuel obtained a temporary restraining order against PUSH citing “escalating illegal, unprofessional and harassing tactics to promote its narrow agenda against the company,” according to a press release.
In the same press release, David A. Smith, chairman and chief executive officer for National Fuel, expressed the company’s position on the matter in a press release issued Sept. 21:
“It is unfortunate that PUSH has driven its agenda to such an extreme as to lead us into court to seek protection for the company, its employees, customers and our facilities. Given the egregious conduct of PUSH, its leaders and members, we will not, under any circumstances, partner with PUSH, nor will we support organizations that do so.”
PUSH attended a hearing in Albany on Sept. 28 where the Public Service Commission heard the organization’s stance on the CIP.
New York State Assemblyman Sam Hoyt, said he is trying to facilitate a dialogue between PUSH and National Fuel. Hoyt said a meeting with the Public Service Commission is a good place to start negotiations.
“The (Public Service Commission) isn’t going to say, ‘Whatever you want PUSH,’ but I do think the fact that PUSH is getting an audience -- two hours with the commissioner, is promising,” Hoyt said.
PUSH held a rally on Sept. 29 to discuss the commission hearing publicly. The rally included its members, community leaders and local politicians speaking out against National Fuel’s plans.
During the rally, Hoyt said he would do what he can through Dec. 1, even suggesting legislation that would mandate these types of changes.
Buffalo Common Councilmember David Rivera, called National Fuel “arrogant” and said “PUSH has done a great job not only on this issue but on many issues.”
The two representatives were at the rally to support PUSH and the Buffalo residents.
Even though the relationship between PUSH and National Fuel seems to be broken, Bartley said there is hope. “As the metaphor goes, you can repair fractures.”
“But we’re not going away, this is too important to our neighborhoods and communities to see a strong conservation program and real resources being made available to deal with our high utility bills.”
The Public Service Commission released a on Oct.1 announcing it is continuing to seek public comment on National Fuel’s petition to extend its CIP.
Bartley is urging citizens to get involved.
“We can win this fight as a community,” he said. “Call, write, e-mail, whatever you have to do to make your voice heard.”
Edited by Kevin Freiheit and Taylor Steinberg
PUSH – Buffalo’s fight against utility giant National Fuel isn’t just a few citizens complaining about high costs and corporate ignorance, the movement has tangibility to it.
ReplyDeleteThe organization has protested its cause via rallies, letters, and phone calls to National Fuel and the Public Service Commission. The culmination of the movement came Sept. 29 at a rally titled, Community Speaks! at 10 Winter St., in front of PUSH’s NetZero house.
The event featured speeches, testimonials and songs from its members, community leaders, residents and two local politicians, Sam Hoyt and David Rivera. After months and months of action, now PUSH must let the fight come to them. The Public Service Commission will field public comment until Dec. 1 and make a decision to renew or reject National Fuel’s Conservation Incentive Program sometime after that.--Mike Gambini
On Sept. 29, at a PUSH rally called Community Speaks!, Annie Cruz, a West Side resident involved with PUSH, had a song prepared for David F. Smith, chairman and chief executive officer for National Fuel.
ReplyDeleteThe song had one simple message. “Are you afraid of us Mr. Smith,” sang Cruz. The song had a comical tone as everyone in attendance had a smile on his or her face but there was also something important to take out of the song. That something was the fact that PUSH’s representatives along with low-income West Side residents directly affected by National Fuel’s CIP will not back down.
Smith has already filed a restraining order against PUSH and that has still not stopped them from continuing to petition to the PSC to put the CIP on hold until revisions are made to it to benefit low-income customers. -- Ken Obstarczyk