Requires reporting by the public service commission on consumer protections adopted by electric corporations and municipalities

BILL NUMBER:S666

Title of bill

An act to amend the public service law, in relation to requiring reporting by the public service commission on consumer protections adopted by electric corporations and municipalities

Purpose or general idea of bill

The legislation would require the Public Service Commission (PSC) to submit to the Governor, Assembly Speaker, and Temporary President of the Senate, an annual review of existing consumer protection policies under HEFPA. The legislation requires evaluations of several critical consumer protection mechanisms. The legislation would create unprecedented opportunities for actively addressing consumer policy deficiencies.

Summary of provisions

The PSC must submit its first report by November 15th, 2014, and at least once annually thereafter. The report must include, but is not limited to, evaluations and information on the following:

a) procedures for notifying customers who are in arrears on their obligations of how they may avoid termination;

b) effectiveness of the PSC's shutoff hotline, including the call volume to such hotline in each utility service territory;

c) adequacy of the PSC's assistance to customers negotiating deferred payment agreements;

d) number of incidences, if any, in which utilities have required more than the lawfully allowed level of down payments or deferred payments from customers seeking to connect service or avoid disconnection; and

e) the monthly number of electric and natural gas customers who previously received utility bill assistance from the Home Energy Assistance Program whose service was terminated for bill collection purposes in each utility service area in the previous calendar year;

The PSC is obligated to collect information from utilities in ways that preserve customer confidentiality.

Justification

Between 2005 and 2010, New York utilities have executed over 1.7 million residential utility terminations. New York's unsettling termination trend strongly suggests that existing consumer protection policies are failing consumers. This legislation would require the PSC to periodically evaluate - and improve - consumer protection policies.

Prior legislative history

2011-12: S.S697-A/A.7778 (Linares) (Difference in dates) (Passed Assembly)

Fiscal implications for state and local governments

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.