Senator Zeldin Announces Passage of His Bill to Eliminate Multiple Utility Fees

May 5, 2014

For Immediate Release

Contact: Kara Cumoletti (518) 455-3570

Senator Zeldin Announces Passage of His Bill to Eliminate Multiple Utility Fees 

ALBANY—Senator Lee Zeldin (R,C,I—Shirley), Chairman of the NYS Senate Consumer Protection Committee, just announced that his legislation, eliminating multiple utility fees, passed today in the Senate. The bill, S. 1687, would prohibit a public authority, public utility authority, or an entity governed by the Public Service Commission (PSC) from imposing a fee, on any customer, for failure to use an electronic method of payment. Further, the bill would prohibit public authorities from imposing a periodic administrative or other charge on its customers.

“My office has been inundated with calls from constituents fed up with their crippling utility bills and frustrated with the additional fees for administration and business costs that they’re seeing passed on to them by the utility companies,” said Senator Zeldin.

“Public utility customers face challenges exercising their rights of consumer choice and this bill offers these consumers an extra layer of protection against additional fees at a time when every penny counts for Long Island families.”

This bill is sponsored in the Assembly by the Chair of Consumer Affairs and Protection, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (D—Bronx).

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