Consolidated Edison provides electric, gas, and steam services to more than three million homes and businesses in New York City and Westchester County. In the midst of a recent heat wave, the corporation reassigned management employees and retired supervisors to field positions to do the work of traditional employees. Some critics claim that these workers are not qualified to perform these jobs and their health and safety are at risk. In addition there is concern about what procedures have been established to ensure that adequate services are provided to consumers in the event of a power emergency or disruption in services.

Since the recent decision, there have been two known non-fatal injuries to the newly reassigned employees. One employee was injured in a manhole explosion on the Upper West Side and another was burned in a substation fire in Bensonhurst. The purpose of this hearing is to examine the protocols in place to ensure the safety of employees and the public in this challenging situation.

Persons wishing to present pertinent testimony to the Committee at the above hearing should complete and return the enclosed reply form as soon as possible. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation.

Oral testimony will be limited to ten minutes’ duration. In preparing the order of witnesses, the Committee will attempt to accommodate individual requests to speak at particular times in view of special circumstances. These requests should be made on the attached reply form or communicated to Committee staff as early as possible.

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Persons wishing to present testimony at the public hearing on the procedures put in place by Consolidated Edison to ensure that safe and reliable services are provided to New York State residents are requested to complete this reply form as soon as possible and mail, email or fax it to: