BILL NUMBER: S8685

SPONSOR: SERINO
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the public service law, in relation to informational
notices on utility bills

 
PURPOSE:

To increase transparency on customers energy bills.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: Requires that customers receive annual written notification
when they are receiving energy services through a company that is not an
electric or natural gas utility corporation or municipality.

Section 2: Provides the effective date.

 
              

JUSTIFICATION:

The utility slam is a practice whereby an energy service company (ESCO)
tricks customers into switching utility suppliers under false pretenses.
In some cases, telemarketers or door-to-door salespersons will make
dubious claims of savings for switching providers, and in other cases
they elicit a customers' account numbers while purporting to be an
employee of their gas or electric service provider so they can switch
their service without the customers' permission or knowledge.

The New York State Department of Public Service's Consumer Advocate has
issued refunds from energy providers for deceptive practices; however,
consumers cannot always count on their exploitation being detected by
the state. This legislation would increase transparency in utility bills
by requiring a written notification be provided on an annual basis indi-
cating when someone is receiving their energy services through a company
that is not an electric or natural gas utility corporation or munici-
pality. Such transparency will help customers to be able to better track
where there money is going so that they can take proactive steps to
self-advocate for themselves.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have
become law.