What's happening
This bill requires utility companies or municipalities to notify customers online if energy supply rates increase by at least 100% from the previous month.
Why it matters
Improves transparency for consumers. By requiring utilities and municipalities to post large price hikes online, customers are better informed about sudden, significant increases in their energy costs, allowing them to plan or budget accordingly.
Promotes accountability for energy suppliers. Public notification of a 100% or greater rate increase may pressure utility companies and municipalities to justify or better manage dramatic price surges.
Supports consumer awareness and engagement. Easy online access to rate change information empowers customers to track energy price trends, potentially prompting them to seek alternative providers or conservation measures.
May lead to increased public scrutiny and dialogue. The mandated disclosure could drive community discussion, media coverage, and policy responses regarding utility rate-setting practices and broader energy market conditions.
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Who cares
Public utility companies supplying energy
They would have to conspicuously post their supply rate and its percentage increase on their website when the actual or projected rate is at least double the prior month's rate.
Municipalities supplying energy
They would face the same website notification requirement when their actual or projected supply rate rises by at least 100 percent over the prior month.
Customers of energy utilities and municipal suppliers
They would gain website notice of actual or projected supply-rate increases of at least 100 percent from the prior month.
Headline styles
Notify Big Utility Rate Hikes
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
10782
IN ASSEMBLY
May 18, 2018
Introduced by M. of A. BYRNE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
AN ACT to amend the public service law, in relation to requiring the notification of a public utility company's or municipality's customers when the supply rate increases by at least one hundred percent
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The public service law is amended by adding a new section 44-a to read as follows:
§ 44-a. Increase in energy supply rate; customer notification. When a public utility company or municipality which supplies energy determines that an actual or projected energy supply rate is at least one hundred percent over the prior month's energy supply rate, such public utility company or municipality shall notify their customers by conspicuously posting on their website their energy supply rate as well as the percent increase in such rate from the prior month.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15946-01-8
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.