NY State Assembly Bill 2025-A953A

Assembly Bill A953A

2025-2026 Legislative Session

Relates to the termination of certain utility services and to reports on investigatory proceedings relating to gas, electric, and steam service

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Current Bill Status - In Assembly 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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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Mar 31, 2025	print number 953a
Mar 31, 2025	amend (t) and recommit to corporations, authorities and commissions
Jan 08, 2025	referred to corporations, authorities and commissions

Bill Amendments

Original

A (Active)

co-Sponsors

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2025-A953 - Details

See Senate Version of this Bill:: S904
Current Committee:: Assembly Corporations, Authorities And Commissions
Law Section:: Public Service Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §2, add §§54, 77-a, 85-a & 16-a, Pub Serv L
Versions Introduced in 2023-2024 Legislative Session:: A7537, S6803

2025-A953 - Summary

Prohibits utility corporations from imposing late fees, interest, or penalties during an investigation by the commission; allows retroactive late fees, interest, or penalties if a determination is made in favor of such utility corporation; prohibits utility services from being terminated during an investigation by the commission; requires utility corporations to notify customers of investigations

2025-A953 - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                    953
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                                (PREFILED)
 
                              January 8, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of A. SHRESTHA, GALLAGHER, JACOBSON, STECK, BURDICK,
   SIMON, MITAYNES, EPSTEIN, STIRPE, MAMDANI, FORREST, R. CARROLL, ROSEN-
   THAL, DE LOS SANTOS, SEPTIMO, REYES, RAGA -- read once and referred to
   the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions

 AN ACT to amend the public service law, in relation  to  termination  of
   certain utility services
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1.  Short title. This act shall be known and may be  cited  as
 the  "consumer  utility  protections  during  investigations act" or the
 "CUPDI act".
   § 2. Section 2 of the public service law is amended by  adding  a  new
 subdivision 30 to read as follows:
   30.  "FINAL  DETERMINATION"  OR  "FINALLY DETERMINED" MEANS A JUDICIAL
 DECISION: (I) BY THE HIGHEST COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION; OR (II) BY
 A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION FROM WHICH NO APPEAL  HAS  BEEN  TAKEN
 AND THE TIME WITHIN WHICH TO APPEAL HAS EXPIRED.
   §  3.  The public service law is amended by adding a new section 54 to
 read as follows:
   § 54. INVESTIGATIONS RELATING TO RESIDENTIAL GAS, ELECTRIC  AND  STEAM
 UTILITY SERVICE. 1. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE TERM "INVESTI-
 GATION"  SHALL  MEAN  A FORMAL PROCEEDING CONDUCTED BY THE COMMISSION TO
 EXAMINE THE POLICIES, PRACTICES, RATES, CHARGES,  SERVICES,  FACILITIES,
 OPERATIONS,  OR  MANAGEMENT  OF  A  UTILITY  CORPORATION OR TO DETERMINE
 COMPLIANCE WITH ANY LAW, RULE, REGULATION, ORDER, OR  TARIFF  APPLICABLE
 TO SUCH UTILITY CORPORATION. THE TERM "INVESTIGATION" SHALL INCLUDE SUCH
 PROCEEDINGS  CONDUCTED  PURSUANT TO SECTION SEVENTY-ONE OF THIS CHAPTER.
 NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY, THE TERM "INVESTIGATION" SHALL
 NOT INCLUDE COMMISSION INQUIRIES TRIGGERED  BY  AN  INDIVIDUAL  CUSTOMER
 COMPLAINT FILED PURSUANT TO SECTION FORTY-THREE OF THIS ARTICLE.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                            LBD00509-01-5
 A. 953                              2
 
   2.  (A)  A UTILITY CORPORATION SHALL NOT IMPOSE LATE FEES, INTEREST OR
 PENALTIES DURING AN INVESTIGATION IF SUCH  UTILITY  CORPORATION  IS  THE
 SUBJECT  OF  A  PENDING  INVESTIGATION, PROVIDED HOWEVER, THAT SUCH LATE
 FEES, INTEREST AND PENALTIES MAY BE IMPOSED RETROACTIVELY IF SUCH INVES-
 TIGATION  IS  ISSUED A FINAL ORDER IN FAVOR OF SUCH UTILITY CORPORATION.
 SUCH LATE PAYMENT CHARGES SHALL BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE GUIDELINES SET
 FORTH IN SECTION FORTY-TWO OF THIS ARTICLE.
   (B) UPON THE FINAL DETERMINATION OR BY THE ISSUANCE OF A FINAL  ORDER,
 OF  ANY  INVESTIGATION  COVERED  BY  THIS  SECTION, THE COMMISSION SHALL
 EITHER (I) DETERMINE ANY ALLOWABLE PENALTIES THE UTILITY CORPORATION MAY
 IMPOSE UPON ITS CUSTOMERS, OR (II) WAIVE, OR PARTIALLY WAIVE, ANY INTER-
 EST OR FEES CHARGED BY THE UTILITY CORPORATION TO THE CONSUMER  ON  SUCH
 CONSUMER'S  BILLING  STATEMENTS DURING A PERIOD SUCH UTILITY CORPORATION
 DETERMINES TO BE RELATED TO SUCH INVESTIGATION.
   3. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY LAW, RULE, REGULATION, ORDER, OR TARIFF TO  THE
 CONTRARY,  UTILITY  SERVICE  SHALL  NOT  BE  TERMINATED  TO  RESIDENTIAL
 ACCOUNTS FOR NON-PAYMENT OF AN OVERDUE CHARGE FROM THE  COMMENCEMENT  OF
 ANY  COMMISSION  INVESTIGATION  UNTIL  ONE HUNDRED TWENTY DAYS AFTER THE
 FINDINGS OF SUCH INVESTIGATION HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED AND  A  DETERMINATION
 HAS BEEN ISSUED BY THE COMMISSION. NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL PROHIB-
 IT A UTILITY CORPORATION FROM DISCONNECTING SERVICE NECESSARY TO PROTECT
 THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF CUSTOMERS AND THE PUBLIC.
   4.  (A)  WITHIN  TEN DAYS OF THE COMMENCEMENT OF AN INVESTIGATION, THE
 UTILITY CORPORATION SHALL NOTIFY RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS OF SUCH  INVESTI-
 GATION.  FORMS OF NOTIFICATION OF AN INVESTIGATION FROM A UTILITY CORPO-
 RATION TO A RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE  LIMITED  TO,
 LETTERS,  NOTICES  ON  UTILITY BILLS, PHONE CALLS, AND NOTICES POSTED ON
 THE UTILITY CORPORATION'S WEBSITE.
   (B) WITHIN THREE DAYS OF THE COMMENCEMENT  OF  AN  INVESTIGATION,  THE
 DEPARTMENT  SHALL  POST  A NOTICE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF SUCH INVESTI-
 GATION ON ITS WEBSITE.
   § 4. The public service law is amended by adding a new section 77-a to
 read as follows:
   § 77-A. INVESTIGATIONS RELATING TO COMMERCIAL GAS AND ELECTRIC UTILITY
 SERVICE. 1. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE  TERM  "INVESTIGATION"
 SHALL  MEAN  A  FORMAL PROCEEDING CONDUCTED BY THE COMMISSION TO EXAMINE
 THE POLICIES, PRACTICES, RATES,  CHARGES,  SERVICES,  FACILITIES,  OPER-
 ATIONS,  OR  MANAGEMENT OF A UTILITY CORPORATION OR TO DETERMINE COMPLI-
 ANCE WITH ANY LAW, RULE, REGULATION, ORDER OR TARIFF APPLICABLE TO  SUCH
 UTILITY   CORPORATION.  THE  TERM  "INVESTIGATION"  SHALL  INCLUDE  SUCH
 PROCEEDINGS CONDUCTED PURSUANT TO SECTION SEVENTY-ONE OF  THIS  ARTICLE.
 NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY, THE TERM "INVESTIGATION" SHALL
 NOT  INCLUDE  COMMISSION  INQUIRIES  TRIGGERED BY AN INDIVIDUAL CUSTOMER
 COMPLAINT FILED PURSUANT TO SECTION FORTY-THREE OF THIS CHAPTER.
   2. (A) A UTILITY CORPORATION SHALL NOT IMPOSE LATE FEES,  INTEREST  OR
 PENALTIES  DURING  AN  INVESTIGATION  IF SUCH UTILITY CORPORATION IS THE
 SUBJECT OF A PENDING INVESTIGATION, PROVIDED  HOWEVER,  THAT  SUCH  LATE
 FEES, INTEREST AND PENALTIES MAY BE IMPOSED RETROACTIVELY IF SUCH INVES-
 TIGATION  IS  ISSUED A FINAL ORDER IN FAVOR OF SUCH UTILITY CORPORATION.
 SUCH LATE PAYMENT CHARGES SHALL BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE GUIDELINES SET
 FORTH IN SECTION SIXTY-FIVE OF THIS ARTICLE.
   (B) UPON THE FINAL DETERMINATION OR BY THE ISSUANCE OF A FINAL  ORDER,
 OF  ANY  INVESTIGATION  COVERED  BY  THIS  SECTION, THE COMMISSION SHALL
 EITHER (I) DETERMINE ANY ALLOWABLE PENALTIES THE UTILITY CORPORATION MAY
 IMPOSE UPON ITS CUSTOMERS, OR (II) WAIVE, OR PARTIALLY WAIVE, ANY INTER-
 EST OR FEES CHARGED BY SUCH UTILITY CORPORATION TO THE CONSUMER ON  SUCH
 A. 953                              3
 
 CONSUMER'S  BILLING  STATEMENTS DURING A PERIOD SUCH UTILITY CORPORATION
 DETERMINES TO BE RELATED TO SUCH INVESTIGATION.
   3.  NOTWITHSTANDING ANY LAW, RULE, REGULATION, ORDER, OR TARIFF TO THE
 CONTRARY,  UTILITY  SERVICE  SHALL  NOT  BE  TERMINATED  TO  RESIDENTIAL
 ACCOUNTS  FOR  NON-PAYMENT OF AN OVERDUE CHARGE FROM THE COMMENCEMENT OF
 ANY COMMISSION INVESTIGATION UNTIL ONE HUNDRED  TWENTY  DAYS  AFTER  THE
 FINDINGS  OF  SUCH INVESTIGATION HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED AND A DETERMINATION
 HAS BEEN ISSUED BY THE COMMISSION. NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL PROHIB-
 IT A UTILITY CORPORATION FROM DISCONNECTING SERVICE NECESSARY TO PROTECT
 THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF CUSTOMERS AND THE PUBLIC.
   4. (A) WITHIN TEN DAYS OF THE COMMENCEMENT OF  AN  INVESTIGATION,  THE
 UTILITY  CORPORATION SHALL NOTIFY RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS OF SUCH INVESTI-
 GATION. FORMS OF NOTIFICATION OF AN INVESTIGATION FROM A UTILITY  CORPO-
 RATION  TO  A RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO,
 LETTERS, NOTICES ON UTILITY BILLS, PHONE CALLS, AND  NOTICES  POSTED  ON
 THE UTILITY CORPORATION'S WEBSITE.
   (B)  WITHIN  THREE  DAYS  OF THE COMMENCEMENT OF AN INVESTIGATION, THE
 DEPARTMENT SHALL POST A NOTICE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC  OF  SUCH  INVESTI-
 GATION ON ITS WEBSITE.
   § 5. The public service law is amended by adding a new section 85-a to
 read as follows:
   §  85-A.  INVESTIGATIONS RELATING TO COMMERCIAL STEAM UTILITY SERVICE.
 1.  FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION,  THE  TERM  "INVESTIGATION"  SHALL
 MEAN  A  FORMAL  PROCEEDING  CONDUCTED  BY THE COMMISSION TO EXAMINE THE
 POLICIES, PRACTICES, RATES, CHARGES, SERVICES,  FACILITIES,  OPERATIONS,
 OR  MANAGEMENT  OF A UTILITY CORPORATION OR TO DETERMINE COMPLIANCE WITH
 ANY LAW, RULE, REGULATION, ORDER OR TARIFF APPLICABLE  TO  SUCH  UTILITY
 CORPORATION.  THE  TERM  "INVESTIGATION"  SHALL INCLUDE SUCH PROCEEDINGS
 CONDUCTED PURSUANT TO SECTION SEVENTY-ONE OF  THIS  CHAPTER.    NOTWITH-
 STANDING  ANYTHING  TO  THE CONTRARY, THE TERM "INVESTIGATION" SHALL NOT
 INCLUDE  COMMISSION  INQUIRIES  TRIGGERED  BY  AN  INDIVIDUAL   CUSTOMER
 COMPLAINT FILED PURSUANT TO SECTION FORTY-THREE OF THIS CHAPTER.
   2.  (A) A UTILITY CORPORATION SHALL NOT IMPOSE LATE FEES, INTEREST, OR
 PENALTIES DURING AN INVESTIGATION IF SUCH  UTILITY  CORPORATION  IS  THE
 SUBJECT  OF  A  PENDING  INVESTIGATION, PROVIDED HOWEVER, THAT SUCH LATE
 FEES, INTEREST AND PENALTIES MAY BE IMPOSED RETROACTIVELY IF SUCH INVES-
 TIGATION IS ISSUED A FINAL ORDER IN FAVOR OF SUCH  UTILITY  CORPORATION.
 SUCH  LATE  PAYMENT CHARGES SHALL BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION SEVENTY-
 NINE OF THIS ARTICLE.
   (B) UPON THE FINAL DETERMINATION OR BY THE ISSUANCE OF A FINAL  ORDER,
 OF  ANY  INVESTIGATION  COVERED  BY  THIS  SECTION, THE COMMISSION SHALL
 EITHER (I) DETERMINE ANY ALLOWABLE PENALTIES THE UTILITY CORPORATION MAY
 IMPOSE UPON ITS CUSTOMERS, OR (II) WAIVE, OR PARTIALLY WAIVE, ANY INTER-
 EST OR FEES CHARGED BY THE UTILITY CORPORATION TO THE CONSUMER  ON  SUCH
 CONSUMER'S  BILLING  STATEMENTS DURING A PERIOD SUCH UTILITY CORPORATION
 DETERMINES TO BE RELATED TO SUCH INVESTIGATION.
   3. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY LAW, RULE, REGULATION, ORDER, OR TARIFF TO  THE
 CONTRARY,  UTILITY  SERVICE  SHALL  NOT  BE  TERMINATED  TO  RESIDENTIAL
 ACCOUNTS FOR NON-PAYMENT OF AN OVERDUE CHARGE FROM THE  COMMENCEMENT  OF
 ANY  COMMISSION  INVESTIGATION  UNTIL  ONE HUNDRED TWENTY DAYS AFTER THE
 FINDINGS OF SUCH INVESTIGATION HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED AND  A  DETERMINATION
 HAS BEEN ISSUED BY THE COMMISSION. NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL PROHIB-
 IT A UTILITY CORPORATION FROM DISCONNECTING SERVICE NECESSARY TO PROTECT
 THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF CUSTOMERS AND THE PUBLIC.
   4.  (A)  WITHIN  TEN DAYS OF THE COMMENCEMENT OF AN INVESTIGATION, THE
 UTILITY CORPORATION SHALL NOTIFY RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS OF SUCH  INVESTI-
 A. 953                              4
 
 GATION.  FORMS OF NOTIFICATION OF AN INVESTIGATION FROM A UTILITY CORPO-
 RATION TO A RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE  LIMITED  TO,
 LETTERS,  NOTICES  ON  UTILITY BILLS, PHONE CALLS, AND NOTICES POSTED ON
 THE UTILITY CORPORATION'S WEBSITE.
   (B)  WITHIN  THREE  DAYS  OF THE COMMENCEMENT OF AN INVESTIGATION, THE
 DEPARTMENT SHALL POST A NOTICE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC  OF  SUCH  INVESTI-
 GATION ON ITS WEBSITE.
   §  6.  This  act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall
 have become a law.

co-Sponsors

View additional co-sponsors

2025-A953A (ACTIVE) - Details

See Senate Version of this Bill:: S904
Current Committee:: Assembly Corporations, Authorities And Commissions
Law Section:: Public Service Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §2, add §§54, 77-a, 85-a & 16-a, Pub Serv L
Versions Introduced in 2023-2024 Legislative Session:: A7537, S6803

2025-A953A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-A953A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  953--A
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                                (PREFILED)
 
                              January 8, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of A. SHRESTHA, GALLAGHER, JACOBSON, STECK, BURDICK,
   SIMON, MITAYNES, EPSTEIN, STIRPE, MAMDANI, FORREST, R. CARROLL, ROSEN-
   THAL, DE LOS SANTOS, SEPTIMO, REYES, RAGA -- read once and referred to
   the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions --  commit-
   tee  discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recom-
   mitted to said committee
 
 AN ACT to amend the public service law, in relation  to  termination  of
   certain  utility  services and to reports on investigatory proceedings
   relating to gas, electric, and steam service
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Short  title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
 the "consumer utility protections  during  investigations  act"  or  the
 "CUPDI act".
   §  2.  Section  2 of the public service law is amended by adding a new
 subdivision 30 to read as follows:
   30. "FINAL DETERMINATION" OR "FINALLY  DETERMINED"  MEANS  A  JUDICIAL
 DECISION: (I) BY THE HIGHEST COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION; OR (II) BY
 A  COURT  OF  COMPETENT JURISDICTION FROM WHICH NO APPEAL HAS BEEN TAKEN
 AND THE TIME WITHIN WHICH TO APPEAL HAS EXPIRED.
   § 3. The public service law is amended by adding a new section  54  to
 read as follows:
   §  54.  INVESTIGATIONS RELATING TO RESIDENTIAL GAS, ELECTRIC AND STEAM
 UTILITY SERVICE. 1. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE TERM "INVESTI-
 GATION" SHALL MEAN A FORMAL PROCEEDING CONDUCTED BY  THE  COMMISSION  TO
 EXAMINE  THE  BILLING, RATES, OR CHARGES OF A UTILITY CORPORATION OR ANY
 PROCEEDING DURING WHICH THE COMMISSION DEEMS IT APPROPRIATE TO PAUSE THE
 CHARGES DESCRIBED IN SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION.  THE TERM  "INVES-
 TIGATION"  SHALL  INCLUDE SUCH PROCEEDINGS CONDUCTED PURSUANT TO SECTION
 SEVENTY-ONE OF THIS CHAPTER. NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING TO  THE  CONTRARY,
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                            LBD00509-02-5
 A. 953--A                           2
 
 THE  TERM  "INVESTIGATION"  SHALL NOT INCLUDE COMMISSION INQUIRIES TRIG-
 GERED BY AN INDIVIDUAL CUSTOMER  COMPLAINT  FILED  PURSUANT  TO  SECTION
 FORTY-THREE OF THIS ARTICLE.
   2.  (A)  A UTILITY CORPORATION SHALL NOT IMPOSE LATE FEES, INTEREST OR
 PENALTIES DURING AN INVESTIGATION IF SUCH  UTILITY  CORPORATION  IS  THE
 SUBJECT  OF  A  PENDING  INVESTIGATION, PROVIDED HOWEVER, THAT SUCH LATE
 FEES, INTEREST AND PENALTIES MAY BE IMPOSED RETROACTIVELY IF SUCH INVES-
 TIGATION IS ISSUED A FINAL ORDER IN FAVOR OF SUCH  UTILITY  CORPORATION.
 SUCH LATE PAYMENT CHARGES SHALL BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE GUIDELINES SET
 FORTH IN SECTION FORTY-TWO OF THIS ARTICLE.
   (B)  UPON THE FINAL DETERMINATION OR BY THE ISSUANCE OF A FINAL ORDER,
 OF ANY INVESTIGATION COVERED  BY  THIS  SECTION,  THE  COMMISSION  SHALL
 EITHER (I) DETERMINE ANY ALLOWABLE PENALTIES THE UTILITY CORPORATION MAY
 IMPOSE UPON ITS CUSTOMERS, OR (II) WAIVE, OR PARTIALLY WAIVE, ANY INTER-
 EST  OR  FEES CHARGED BY THE UTILITY CORPORATION TO THE CONSUMER ON SUCH
 CONSUMER'S BILLING STATEMENTS DURING A PERIOD SUCH  UTILITY  CORPORATION
 DETERMINES TO BE RELATED TO SUCH INVESTIGATION.
   3.  NOTWITHSTANDING ANY LAW, RULE, REGULATION, ORDER, OR TARIFF TO THE
 CONTRARY,  UTILITY  SERVICE  SHALL  NOT  BE  TERMINATED  TO  RESIDENTIAL
 ACCOUNTS  FOR  NON-PAYMENT OF AN OVERDUE CHARGE FROM THE COMMENCEMENT OF
 ANY COMMISSION INVESTIGATION UNTIL ONE HUNDRED  TWENTY  DAYS  AFTER  THE
 FINDINGS  OF  SUCH INVESTIGATION HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED AND A DETERMINATION
 HAS BEEN ISSUED BY THE COMMISSION. NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL PROHIB-
 IT A UTILITY CORPORATION FROM DISCONNECTING SERVICE NECESSARY TO PROTECT
 THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF CUSTOMERS AND THE PUBLIC.
   4. (A) WITHIN TEN DAYS OF THE COMMENCEMENT OF  AN  INVESTIGATION,  THE
 UTILITY  CORPORATION SHALL NOTIFY RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS OF SUCH INVESTI-
 GATION. FORMS OF NOTIFICATION OF AN INVESTIGATION FROM A UTILITY  CORPO-
 RATION  TO  A RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO,
 LETTERS, NOTICES ON UTILITY BILLS, PHONE CALLS, AND  NOTICES  POSTED  ON
 THE UTILITY CORPORATION'S WEBSITE.
   (B)  WITHIN  THREE  DAYS  OF THE COMMENCEMENT OF AN INVESTIGATION, THE
 DEPARTMENT SHALL POST A NOTICE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC  OF  SUCH  INVESTI-
 GATION ON ITS WEBSITE.
   § 4. The public service law is amended by adding a new section 77-a to
 read as follows:
   § 77-A. INVESTIGATIONS RELATING TO COMMERCIAL GAS AND ELECTRIC UTILITY
 SERVICE.  1.  FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE TERM "INVESTIGATION"
 SHALL MEAN A FORMAL PROCEEDING CONDUCTED BY THE  COMMISSION  TO  EXAMINE
 THE  BILLING, RATES, OR CHARGES OF A UTILITY CORPORATION OR ANY PROCEED-
 ING DURING WHICH THE COMMISSION DEEMS IT APPROPRIATE TO PAUSE THE CHARG-
 ES DESCRIBED IN SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION.    THE  TERM  "INVESTI-
 GATION"  SHALL  INCLUDE  SUCH  PROCEEDINGS CONDUCTED PURSUANT TO SECTION
 SEVENTY-ONE OF THIS ARTICLE.  NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING TO THE  CONTRARY,
 THE  TERM  "INVESTIGATION"  SHALL NOT INCLUDE COMMISSION INQUIRIES TRIG-
 GERED BY AN INDIVIDUAL CUSTOMER  COMPLAINT  FILED  PURSUANT  TO  SECTION
 FORTY-THREE OF THIS CHAPTER.
   2.  (A)  A UTILITY CORPORATION SHALL NOT IMPOSE LATE FEES, INTEREST OR
 PENALTIES DURING AN INVESTIGATION IF SUCH  UTILITY  CORPORATION  IS  THE
 SUBJECT  OF  A  PENDING  INVESTIGATION, PROVIDED HOWEVER, THAT SUCH LATE
 FEES, INTEREST AND PENALTIES MAY BE IMPOSED RETROACTIVELY IF SUCH INVES-
 TIGATION IS ISSUED A FINAL ORDER IN FAVOR OF SUCH  UTILITY  CORPORATION.
 SUCH LATE PAYMENT CHARGES SHALL BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE GUIDELINES SET
 FORTH IN SECTION SIXTY-FIVE OF THIS ARTICLE.
   (B)  UPON THE FINAL DETERMINATION OR BY THE ISSUANCE OF A FINAL ORDER,
 OF ANY INVESTIGATION COVERED  BY  THIS  SECTION,  THE  COMMISSION  SHALL
 A. 953--A                           3
 
 EITHER (I) DETERMINE ANY ALLOWABLE PENALTIES THE UTILITY CORPORATION MAY
 IMPOSE UPON ITS CUSTOMERS, OR (II) WAIVE, OR PARTIALLY WAIVE, ANY INTER-
 EST  OR FEES CHARGED BY SUCH UTILITY CORPORATION TO THE CONSUMER ON SUCH
 CONSUMER'S  BILLING  STATEMENTS DURING A PERIOD SUCH UTILITY CORPORATION
 DETERMINES TO BE RELATED TO SUCH INVESTIGATION.
   3. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY LAW, RULE, REGULATION, ORDER, OR TARIFF TO  THE
 CONTRARY,  UTILITY  SERVICE  SHALL  NOT  BE  TERMINATED  TO  RESIDENTIAL
 ACCOUNTS FOR NON-PAYMENT OF AN OVERDUE CHARGE FROM THE  COMMENCEMENT  OF
 ANY  COMMISSION  INVESTIGATION  UNTIL  ONE HUNDRED TWENTY DAYS AFTER THE
 FINDINGS OF SUCH INVESTIGATION HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED AND  A  DETERMINATION
 HAS BEEN ISSUED BY THE COMMISSION. NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL PROHIB-
 IT A UTILITY CORPORATION FROM DISCONNECTING SERVICE NECESSARY TO PROTECT
 THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF CUSTOMERS AND THE PUBLIC.
   4.  (A)  WITHIN  TEN DAYS OF THE COMMENCEMENT OF AN INVESTIGATION, THE
 UTILITY CORPORATION SHALL NOTIFY RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS OF SUCH  INVESTI-
 GATION.  FORMS OF NOTIFICATION OF AN INVESTIGATION FROM A UTILITY CORPO-
 RATION TO A RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE  LIMITED  TO,
 LETTERS,  NOTICES  ON  UTILITY BILLS, PHONE CALLS, AND NOTICES POSTED ON
 THE UTILITY CORPORATION'S WEBSITE.
   (B) WITHIN THREE DAYS OF THE COMMENCEMENT  OF  AN  INVESTIGATION,  THE
 DEPARTMENT  SHALL  POST  A NOTICE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF SUCH INVESTI-
 GATION ON ITS WEBSITE.
   § 5. The public service law is amended by adding a new section 85-a to
 read as follows:
   § 85-A. INVESTIGATIONS RELATING TO COMMERCIAL STEAM  UTILITY  SERVICE.
 1.    FOR  THE  PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE TERM "INVESTIGATION" SHALL
 MEAN A FORMAL PROCEEDING CONDUCTED BY  THE  COMMISSION  TO  EXAMINE  THE
 BILLING,  RATES,  OR CHARGES, OF A UTILITY CORPORATION OR ANY PROCEEDING
 DURING WHICH THE COMMISSION DEEMS IT APPROPRIATE TO  PAUSE  THE  CHARGES
 DESCRIBED  IN  SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION. THE TERM "INVESTIGATION"
 SHALL INCLUDE SUCH PROCEEDINGS CONDUCTED PURSUANT TO SECTION SEVENTY-ONE
 OF THIS CHAPTER.   NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING TO THE  CONTRARY,  THE  TERM
 "INVESTIGATION"  SHALL  NOT INCLUDE COMMISSION INQUIRIES TRIGGERED BY AN
 INDIVIDUAL CUSTOMER COMPLAINT FILED PURSUANT TO SECTION  FORTY-THREE  OF
 THIS CHAPTER.
   2.  (A) A UTILITY CORPORATION SHALL NOT IMPOSE LATE FEES, INTEREST, OR
 PENALTIES DURING AN INVESTIGATION IF SUCH  UTILITY  CORPORATION  IS  THE
 SUBJECT  OF  A  PENDING  INVESTIGATION, PROVIDED HOWEVER, THAT SUCH LATE
 FEES, INTEREST AND PENALTIES MAY BE IMPOSED RETROACTIVELY IF SUCH INVES-
 TIGATION IS ISSUED A FINAL ORDER IN FAVOR OF SUCH  UTILITY  CORPORATION.
 SUCH  LATE  PAYMENT CHARGES SHALL BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION SEVENTY-
 NINE OF THIS ARTICLE.
   (B) UPON THE FINAL DETERMINATION OR BY THE ISSUANCE OF A FINAL  ORDER,
 OF  ANY  INVESTIGATION  COVERED  BY  THIS  SECTION, THE COMMISSION SHALL
 EITHER (I) DETERMINE ANY ALLOWABLE PENALTIES THE UTILITY CORPORATION MAY
 IMPOSE UPON ITS CUSTOMERS, OR (II) WAIVE, OR PARTIALLY WAIVE, ANY INTER-
 EST OR FEES CHARGED BY THE UTILITY CORPORATION TO THE CONSUMER  ON  SUCH
 CONSUMER'S  BILLING  STATEMENTS DURING A PERIOD SUCH UTILITY CORPORATION
 DETERMINES TO BE RELATED TO SUCH INVESTIGATION.
   3. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY LAW, RULE, REGULATION, ORDER, OR TARIFF TO  THE
 CONTRARY,  UTILITY  SERVICE  SHALL  NOT  BE  TERMINATED  TO  RESIDENTIAL
 ACCOUNTS FOR NON-PAYMENT OF AN OVERDUE CHARGE FROM THE  COMMENCEMENT  OF
 ANY  COMMISSION  INVESTIGATION  UNTIL  ONE HUNDRED TWENTY DAYS AFTER THE
 FINDINGS OF SUCH INVESTIGATION HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED AND  A  DETERMINATION
 HAS BEEN ISSUED BY THE COMMISSION. NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL PROHIB-
 A. 953--A                           4
 
 IT A UTILITY CORPORATION FROM DISCONNECTING SERVICE NECESSARY TO PROTECT
 THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF CUSTOMERS AND THE PUBLIC.
   4.  (A)  WITHIN  TEN DAYS OF THE COMMENCEMENT OF AN INVESTIGATION, THE
 UTILITY CORPORATION SHALL NOTIFY RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS OF SUCH  INVESTI-
 GATION.  FORMS OF NOTIFICATION OF AN INVESTIGATION FROM A UTILITY CORPO-
 RATION TO A RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE  LIMITED  TO,
 LETTERS,  NOTICES  ON  UTILITY BILLS, PHONE CALLS, AND NOTICES POSTED ON
 THE UTILITY CORPORATION'S WEBSITE.
   (B) WITHIN THREE DAYS OF THE COMMENCEMENT  OF  AN  INVESTIGATION,  THE
 DEPARTMENT  SHALL  POST  A NOTICE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF SUCH INVESTI-
 GATION ON ITS WEBSITE.
   § 6. The public service law is amended by adding a new section 16-a to
 read as follows:
   § 16-A. REPORTS ON INVESTIGATORY PROCEEDINGS RELATING  TO  GAS,  ELEC-
 TRIC,  AND  STEAM  SERVICE. THE COMMISSION SHALL SUBMIT TO THE GOVERNOR,
 THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE,  THE
 CHAIR OF THE ASSEMBLY CORPORATIONS, COMMISSIONS, AND AUTHORITIES COMMIT-
 TEE, AND THE CHAIR OF THE SENATE ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE
 AN  ANNUAL  REPORT DETAILING THE LIST OF INVESTIGATIONS THAT WERE DEEMED
 APPLICABLE UNDER SECTIONS FIFTY-FOUR, SEVENTY-SEVEN-A, AND EIGHTY-FIVE-A
 OF THIS CHAPTER.   SUCH REPORT  SHALL  INCLUDE  AN  EXPLANATION  OF  THE
 INSTANCES  WHERE  THE  COMMISSION  HAS DEEMED THE USE OF SUCH PROVISIONS
 APPROPRIATE.   ADDITIONALLY, THE REPORT SHALL  INCLUDE  ALL  APPROPRIATE
 CASE  NUMBERS,  OR  DOCKET  NUMBERS  WHERE  APPLICABLE,  UTILIZED IN THE
 COMMISSION'S RECORDS KEEPING SYSTEMS AND ANY OTHER INFORMATION THAT  THE
 COMMISSION DEEMS NECESSARY.
   FOR  THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE TERM "INVESTIGATION" SHALL HAVE
 THE SAME MEANING AS DEFINED IN SECTIONS FIFTY-FOUR, SEVENTY-SEVEN-A, AND
 EIGHTY-FIVE-A OF THIS CHAPTER.
   § 7. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day  after  it  shall
 have become a law.

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Assembly Bill A953A

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Sponsored By

SHRESTHA

Current Bill Status - In Assembly Committee

Bill Amendments

co-Sponsors

Emily Gallagher

Jonathan Jacobson

Phil Steck

Chris Burdick

2025-A953 - Details

2025-A953 - Summary

2025-A953 - Bill Text download pdf

co-Sponsors

Emily Gallagher

Jonathan Jacobson

Phil Steck

Chris Burdick

2025-A953A (ACTIVE) - Details

2025-A953A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-A953A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

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