Requires utility corporations and entities to submit an annual report to the public service commission, the legislature, the executive and the chairman of the state

BILL NUMBER:S3867

Title of bill

An act to amend the public service law, in relation to requiring utility corporations and entities to submit an annual report to the public service commission, the legislature, the executive and the chairman of the state energy planning board detailing energy metering production

Purpose

In order to assess the landscape of current renewable energy use in New York State, this bill requires utility corporations and energy providing entities to annually report to policy makers the exact types, locations, and energy outputs of net metered energy produced in their service territories.

Summary of provisions

This legislation adds a new section, 66-o, to the public service law.

Justification

In order for policy makers to guide and enhance the use of renewable resources in New York State, we must first understand and analyze the states current use of on-site generation. This bill requires utilities and energy providing entities to report annually to the legislature and the Public Service Commission detailing the net energy metering and interconnection between the utility and customer-generators, the type of on-site generators (renewable sources), and the net amount of energy they produce.

Currently, there is no system of reporting in place to monitor the rate of renewable installation, the interconnection of these systems with their provider's grids, and the amount of power being sold back to the utility corporations and distributed within their service territory. This bill would require such reporting.

Any attempt to develop comprehensive renewable energy policy without first getting a realistic analysis of New York States' current renewable portfolio is likely to lead to scattershot, uninformed and myopic decisions.

New York State has the opportunity and the obligation to lead the country in the shift toward use of renewable resources. This bill is a requisite first step toward the development of sound and calculated government policy designed to achieve that end.

Legislative history

2011-2012. Referred to Energy and Telecommunications; Amended and recommitted to Energy and Telecommunications print number 1765A. 01/09/13 REFERRED TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS 01/08/14 REFERRED TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Fiscal implications

None to the state.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.