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Gas Utility Files Updated Billing Tariff and ESCO Service Agreements
On October 7, 2026 Corning Natural Gas filed its P.S.C. No. 7 Gas Tariff that establishes the rates, service classifications, billing requirements, and operating rules governing natural gas service in its New York service territory. Corning Natural Gas’ tariff establishes requirements for third-party suppliers, brokers, and marketers, including executing service agreements, meeting creditworthiness standards, and providing financial security when necessary.
Suppliers must submit monthly gas delivery nominations at least 10 working days before the month begins and maintain deliveries consistent with customer requirements, with potential liability for imbalance charges and pipeline penalties.
The tariff also establishes operational flow order (OFO) requirements, allowing Corning to mandate minimum gas deliveries to maintain system reliability, with penalties or service suspension for noncompliance. Under SC-14, residential and commercial customers may participate in aggregated transportation arrangements without minimum volume requirements, provided marketers meet applicable upstream pipeline capacity obligations.
The tariff addresses capacity assignments, storage and balancing arrangements, and supplier responsibility for applicable taxes, surcharges, transportation expenses, and penalties associated with delivery shortfalls.
Also on October 7, 2026 Corning Natural Gas filed a response outlining its New York PSC approved estimated billing methodology, detailed on tariff sleaves 25–32, and providing historical estimated billing and automated meter reading (AMR) data.
Although Corning is not classified as a large investor-owned utility, it reported that estimated bills declined from 12.04% of total bills in 2015 to 0.45% in 2025 and 0.41% year-to-date in 2026. Meanwhile, AMR meter deployment increased from 2,120 meters (13.64%) in 2020 to 8,618 meters (54.85%) in 1/26, reflecting increased automated meter coverage and reduced reliance on estimated billing.
Next Steps:
By February 11, 2027, Staff must issue a report evaluating utility practices, barriers to obtaining meter reads, causes of estimated billing, the impact of smart meters, the reasonableness of estimation methodologies, and potential recommendations.
