NY State Senate Bill 2023-S7341

Senate Bill S7341

2023-2024 Legislative Session

Requires the public service commission to retain an independent auditor to conduct audits of private water utility companies prior to and after rate changes are approved by the public service commission

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Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Finance Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 03, 2024	referred to finance
May 19, 2023	referred to finance

co-Sponsors

2023-S7341 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Finance
Law Section:: Public Service Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §89-c, Pub Serv L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2017-2018: S6862
2019-2020: S20
2021-2022: S3022

2023-S7341 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2023-S7341 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S7341

SPONSOR: PARKER
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the public service law, in relation to requiring the
public service commission retain an independent auditor to conduct
audits of private water utility companies prior to and after rate chang-
es are approved by the public service commission

 
PURPOSE:

This legislation would require the public service commission to retain
an independent auditor to conduct audits of private water utility compa-
nies prior to and after rate changes are approved by the public service
commission.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Subdivision 10 of section 89-c of the public service law is amended to
require the public service commission to retain an independent auditor
to conduct audits of private water utility companies prior to and after

rate changes are approved by the public service commission.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Nearly ninety-five percent of all New Yorkers receive water from public
water supply systems in New York State. Private water utility companies
service the remaining customers.

Consumers have no choice who provides their water. Public water utili-
ties are exempt from property taxes. Private water utilities are not.
Private water utilities can pass the expense of these taxes on to their
customers and create bills, which in many cases, are dramatically higher
than public water utilities.

When private companies seek and receive rate increases from the Public
Service Commission, the corresponding water bill spikes can be dramatic.
Consumers required to pay these large charges deserve to know that the
companies finances are in order and that all laws regulating their
costs, profits and expenditures are being followed.  This legislation
would require the public service commission to retain an independent
auditor to conduct audits of private water utility companies prior to
and after rate changes are approved by the public service commission.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2021-22 S3022 Referred to Finance

2019/20 S.20 REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE

2017/18 S.6862A PASSED SENATE/DIED IN ASSEMBLY

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

2023-S7341 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   7341
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               May 19, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by Sens. PARKER, MYRIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and
   when printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance
 
 AN  ACT  to  amend  the public service law, in relation to requiring the
   public service commission retain an  independent  auditor  to  conduct
   audits  of  private  water  utility  companies prior to and after rate
   changes are approved by the public service commission
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Subdivision 10 of section 89-c of the public service law is
 amended by adding a new paragraph (b-1) to read as follows:
   (B-1) PRIOR TO THE APPROVAL BY THE COMMISSION OF A CHANGE BY A PRIVATE
 WATER  UTILITY COMPANY IN ANY RATE OR CHARGE, OR IN ANY FORM OF CONTRACT
 OR AGREEMENT OR ANY RULE OR REGULATION RELATING TO ANY RATE,  CHARGE  OR
 SERVICE, OR IN ANY GENERAL PRIVILEGE OR FACILITY, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL
 RETAIN  A  THIRD-PARTY AUDITOR TO CONDUCT AN AUDIT OF SUCH PRIVATE WATER
 UTILITY COMPANY AND PROVIDE HIS OR HER FINDINGS  TO  THE  COMMISSION  IN
 WRITING.  THE  THIRD-PARTY  AUDITOR  SHALL  NOT  BE  AFFILIATED WITH THE
 COMMISSION OR WITH ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION.  IN  THE
 EVENT  OF  APPROVAL  BY  THE  COMMISSION OF ANY SUCH CHANGE BY A PRIVATE
 WATER UTILITY COMPANY IN RATE OR CHARGE, OR IN ANY FORM OF  CONTRACT  OR
 AGREEMENT  OR  ANY  RULE  OR  REGULATION RELATING TO ANY RATE, CHARGE OR
 SERVICE, OR IN ANY GENERAL PRIVILEGE OR FACILITY, THE INDEPENDENT  AUDI-
 TOR  SHALL  CONDUCT  A SECOND AUDIT OF THE PRIVATE WATER UTILITY COMPANY
 ONE YEAR AFTER THE CHANGE TAKES EFFECT. THE COMMISSION SHALL PUBLISH THE
 RESULTS OF ALL SUCH AUDITS ON ITS WEBSITE.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
 
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD11220-01-3

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Senate Bill S7341

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Sponsored By

Kevin S. Parker