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- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Prohibits the New York city water board from enacting any rules and regulations less favorable to the consumer
In Assembly Committee · Cities · Sponsor N. Nick Perry
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act relating to prohibiting the New York city water board from adopting any rules and regulations less favorable to the consumer
Purpose
Prohibits the New York City Water Board from adopting rules and regulations that reduce the timeframe for consumers to appeal bills, receive refunds or otherwise less favorable to the consumer. In addition, where backbilling errors are discovered in favor of the consumer, the New York City water board shall provide for and order refunds up to six years.
Justification
The NYC water board has recently proposed to drastically reduce the period during which billing complaints must be registered, from the current practice of six years to eighteen months. In doing this, the water board is proposing to break with well established and long standing utility industry standard practiced throughout the U.S. and adhered to by the NYS public service commission.
According to the NYC public advocate's office, "the 18 month" proposal would harm businesses as well as private residential consumers. The public advocate reports that although the water board has made some improvements, commercial users still report numerous billing errors from misread meters. Residential customers also report continued problems resulting in overbilling and overpayments, which are usually discovered beyond the 18-month limit proposed.
The 18 month time limit would deny customers their right to refunds for overpayment resulting from the water board's own errors while allowing the water board to retain its own. Adjust and back billing rights of up to two years for residential customers and six for commercial.
This bill will restrict the water board's authority to promulgate such rules that reduce consumer's rights and will preserve and protect existing fair and equitable billing standards for NYC residents whose interest the board should serve.
Prior legislative history
2008: S.1980 2006: S.1179 2002: A.3881 2000: A.8510
Fiscal implications
None to the State.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.