United Tenants of Albany, Inc. v. Niagara Mohawk Power Corp.

OPINION OF THE COURT

John P. Balio, J.

The plaintiffs were consumers of electric power provided by the defendant utility. In 1977, defendant applied for an electric rate increase. Prior to the conclusion of proceedings before the New York Public Service Commission (PSC) on that request, Niagara Mohawk sought another rate increase. In 1979, plaintiffs intervened in the second rate case and were represented by the Public Utility Law Project (PULP) and the Legal Aid Society of Oneida County, Inc., both publicly funded law firms.1 During the rate proceedings, PULP actively participated in the…