S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                  8433

                       2011-2012 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                              June 15, 2011
                               ___________

Introduced  by M. of A. DINOWITZ, GABRYSZAK -- read once and referred to
  the Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection

AN ACT to amend the public service  law,  in  relation  to  unauthorized
  changes in suppliers of natural gas and electric service

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. Section 65 of the public service law is amended by adding a
new subdivision 14 to read as follows:
  14. UNAUTHORIZED CHANGES IN NATURAL GAS OR ELECTRIC SERVICE  PROHIBIT-
ED.  (A)  NO  SUPPLIER OF GAS OR ELECTRIC SERVICE OR ANY PERSON, FIRM OR
CORPORATION ACTING AS SUCH SUPPLIER'S AGENT OR REPRESENTATIVE  SHALL  ON
BEHALF  OF  A CUSTOMER MAKE OR DIRECT ANY CHANGE IN A SUPPLIER OF GAS OR
ELECTRIC SERVICE UNLESS SUCH SUPPLIER, AGENT OR REPRESENTATIVE  COMPLIES
WITH  REQUIREMENTS  TO  AUTHORIZE  AND VERIFY THE CHANGE. THE COMMISSION
SHALL HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH  REQUIREMENTS  FOR  OBTAINING  THE
AUTHORIZATION OF A CUSTOMER TO EFFECT A CHANGE IN THE CUSTOMER'S SUPPLI-
ER  OF  GAS OR ELECTRIC SERVICE AND FOR THE VERIFICATION OF SUCH CHANGE.
IN CONSTRUING AND ENFORCING THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SUBDIVISION, THE  ACT
OF  ANY PERSON, FIRM OR CORPORATION ACTING AS AN AGENT OR REPRESENTATIVE
OF A SUPPLIER OF GAS OR ELECTRIC SERVICE SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE  THE  ACT
OF  SUCH  SUPPLIER  OF GAS OR ELECTRIC SERVICE. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS
SUBDIVISION, "SUPPLIER OF GAS OR ELECTRIC  SERVICE"  SHALL  INCLUDE  ANY
PERSON,  FIRM  OR CORPORATION THAT OFFERS, SELLS OR DELIVERS ALL OR PART
OF NATURAL GAS OR ELECTRIC SERVICE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, A GAS
OR ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION COMPANY, A GAS OR ELECTRIC CORPORATION,  A  GAS
OR ELECTRICITY PROVIDER, MARKETER, AGGREGATOR OR BROKER.
  (B)  THE  FAILURE  TO  COMPLY  WITH THE PROVISIONS IN THIS SUBDIVISION
SHALL SUBJECT A SUPPLIER OF GAS OR ELECTRIC SERVICE TO EITHER THE  JUDI-
CIAL  PENALTY  AUTHORIZED IN SECTION TWENTY-FIVE OF THIS CHAPTER FOR THE
FAILURE OR NEGLECT TO OBEY OR COMPLY WITH A PROVISION OF THIS CHAPTER OR
THE ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY ESTABLISHED IN THIS SUBDIVISION.  IN  SEEKING

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD00743-01-1
              

A. 8433                             2

SUCH  JUDICIAL  PENALTY  OR  ASSESSING  SUCH ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY, THE
COMMISSION SHALL TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE  NATURE,  CIRCUMSTANCES,  EXTENT,
GRAVITY  AND NUMBER OF THE VIOLATIONS, AND WITH RESPECT TO THE VIOLATOR,
THE  DEGREE  OF  CULPABILITY, ANY HISTORY OF PRIOR OFFENSES AND REPEATED
VIOLATIONS, AND SUCH OTHER MATTERS AS MAY BE APPROPRIATE  AND  RELEVANT.
THE  REMEDIES  PROVIDED  BY THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL BE IN ADDITION TO ANY
OTHER REMEDIES PROVIDED BY LAW.
  (C) THE COMMISSION, AFTER OPPORTUNITY FOR A HEARING,  SHALL  HAVE  THE
AUTHORITY  TO  ASSESS  DIRECTLY  AN  ADMINISTRATIVE  PENALTY AGAINST ANY
SUPPLIER OF GAS OR ELECTRIC SERVICE FOR EACH VIOLATION OF THIS  SUBDIVI-
SION OR ORDER OF THE COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING OR ENFORCING THE PROVISIONS
OF  THIS SUBDIVISION. SUCH PENALTY SHALL NOT EXCEED ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS
FOR EACH VIOLATION ASSOCIATED WITH EACH METER SERVICE POINT. ALL  MONEYS
RECOVERED  FROM  ANY ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY SHALL BE PAID INTO THE STATE
TREASURY TO THE CREDIT OF THE GENERAL FUND.
  (D) WHENEVER THE COMMISSION DETERMINES THAT ANY  SUPPLIER  OF  GAS  OR
ELECTRIC  SERVICE IS VIOLATING OR ABOUT TO VIOLATE ANY PROVISION OF THIS
SUBDIVISION OR ANY REGULATION OR ORDER OF THE COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING OR
ENFORCING THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SUBDIVISION, OR HAS FAILED TO  PAY  ANY
PENALTY  ASSESSED  PURSUANT  TO  THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SUBDIVISION, THE
COMMISSIONER SHALL HAVE POWER TO BRING AN ACTION OR ENFORCEMENT PROCEED-
ING AS PROVIDED BY SECTION TWENTY-SIX OF THIS CHAPTER.
  S 2.  This act shall take effect on  the  one  hundred  twentieth  day
after  it  shall  have  become  a law; provided, however, that effective
immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or  regu-
lation  necessary  for  the  implementation of this act on its effective
date are authorized and directed to be made and completed on  or  before
such effective date.