S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                 7475--A

                       2013-2014 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                              May 21, 2013
                               ___________

Introduced  by  M.  of  A. SANTABARBARA -- read once and referred to the
  Committee on Energy -- reported and referred to the Committee on  Ways
  and  Means -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as
  amended and recommitted to said committee

AN ACT to amend the public service law, in relation to requiring report-
  ing by the public service commission on consumer  protections  adopted
  by electric corporations and municipalities

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

  Section 1. Section 32 of the public service law is amended by adding a
new subdivision 7 to read as follows:
  7. THE COMMISSION SHALL, NOT LATER THAN NOVEMBER FIFTEENTH, TWO  THOU-
SAND  FIFTEEN,  AND  AT  LEAST  ONCE ANNUALLY THEREAFTER, PROVIDE TO THE
GOVERNOR, THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE  SENATE,  THE  SPEAKER  OF  THE
ASSEMBLY,  THE  CHAIR OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNI-
CATIONS AND THE CHAIR OF THE  ASSEMBLY  COMMITTEE  ON  ENERGY  A  REPORT
DETAILING  CONSUMER  PROTECTIONS  ADOPTED  BY  ELECTRIC CORPORATIONS AND
MUNICIPALITIES ("UTILITIES") PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE, AND THE  ADEQUACY
OF  THE  COMMISSION'S  ASSISTANCE  TO  CUSTOMERS FACING DISCONNECTION OF
UTILITY SERVICE. THE REPORT SHALL INCLUDE, BUT  NOT  BE  LIMITED  TO  AN
ANALYSIS OF:
  (A)  THE  EFFECTIVENESS  OF  CURRENT  UTILITY PROCEDURES FOR NOTIFYING
CUSTOMERS IN ARREARS ON UTILITY CHARGES OF HOW  THEY  MAY  AVOID  TERMI-
NATION  OF ELECTRIC, GAS OR STEAM SERVICE, INCLUDING THE AVAILABILITY OF
DEFERRED PAYMENT AGREEMENTS;
  (B) THE ADEQUACY OF THE COMMISSION'S ASSISTANCE TO CUSTOMERS NEGOTIAT-
ING DEFERRED PAYMENT AGREEMENTS WITH UTILITIES IN LIEU OF  DISCONNECTION
OF  SERVICE,  INCLUDING  THE AMOUNT OF DEFERRED PAYMENT PLANS BY UTILITY
SERVICE TERRITORY;
  (C) THE NUMBER OF INCIDENCES, IF ANY, IN WHICH UTILITIES HAVE REQUIRED
MORE THAN THE LAWFULLY  ALLOWED  LEVEL  OF  DOWN  PAYMENTS  OR  DEFERRED

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD03373-03-3
              

A. 7475--A                          2

PAYMENTS  FROM  CUSTOMERS  SEEKING  TO  CONNECT SERVICE OR AVOID DISCON-
NECTION;
  (D)  THE  EFFECTIVENESS  AND  AVAILABILITY OF THE COMMISSION'S SHUTOFF
HOTLINE IN RECEIVING CALLS FROM CUSTOMERS FACING  TERMINATION  OF  ELEC-
TRIC,  GAS AND STEAM SERVICE AND THE CALL VOLUME TO SUCH HOTLINE IN EACH
UTILITY SERVICE TERRITORY;
  (E) THE MONTHLY NUMBER OF  ELECTRIC  AND  NATURAL  GAS  CUSTOMERS  WHO
PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED UTILITY BILL ASSISTANCE FROM THE HOME ENERGY ASSIST-
ANCE  PROGRAM  WHOSE SERVICE WAS TERMINATED FOR BILL COLLECTION PURPOSES
IN EACH UTILITY SERVICE AREA IN THE  PREVIOUS  CALENDAR  YEAR,  PROVIDED
FURTHER  THAT  THE COMMISSION SHALL REQUIRE EACH UTILITY TO PROVIDE SUCH
INFORMATION WHILE MAINTAINING CUSTOMER CONFIDENTIALITY; AND
  (F) ANY PROPOSED LEGISLATIVE REMEDIES NECESSARY TO  INCREASE  CUSTOMER
AWARENESS OF SUCH HOTLINE.
  S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.