What's happening
This bill establishes a program encouraging public utility corporations to donate at least 1% of their revenues to local charitable organizations, with oversight and rules set by the Public Service Commission.
Why it matters
Encourages utility companies to invest directly in local communities. , potentially increasing funding available for local nonprofits and civic projects where utilities operate, rather than sending all profits to shareholders.
Prevents utility companies from passing donation costs onto customers. by explicitly prohibiting these charitable contributions from being included in utility rate calculations, aiming to ensure customers’ bills don’t rise as a result.
Establishes oversight and transparency. by requiring Public Service Commission approval for each donation and mandating public notice of contributions, which could help prevent misuse and ensure donations go to legitimate, impactful organizations.
Requires clear definitions and standardized processes. for what qualifies as a “charitable organization” and “revenue,” reducing ambiguity and ensuring consistent application across all regulated utilities.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Let Utilities Fund Community Charities
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2099
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 17, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. LENTOL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
AN ACT to amend the public service law, in relation to establishment of a public utility corporation community support program
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 5 of the public service law is amended by adding a new subdivision 7 to read as follows:
7. There is hereby authorized a public utility corporation community support program (hereinafter referred to as "community support program"), the purpose of which is to allow and encourage contributions by public utility corporations subject to regulation by the commission, to charitable organizations, for the benefit of communities served by the public utility corporations. The commission shall formulate and promulgate rules and regulations providing for the establishment and operation of the community support program, and shall take action and institute all procedures necessary or proper for the establishment and operation of the community support program. Such rules and regulations shall include, but not be limited to, provisions which:
a. set forth the manner in which a public utility corporation shall be encouraged to contribute a minimum of one percent of its revenues to charitable organizations serving communities served by the public utility corporation;
b. define the terms "charitable organization" and "revenue" for purposes of the community support program;
c. require that the consent and approval of the commission be first had and obtained prior to the making of any contribution to a charitable organization pursuant to this section;
d. shall prohibit the contributions of a public utility corporation made pursuant to this section from being considered or allowed for ratemaking purposes; and
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03391-01-7
A. 2099 2
e. provide for notice to be given to the public by the public utility corporation regarding its charitable contributions in a manner likely to be seen and understood by members of the public.
§ 2. If any item, clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, section or other part of this act, or the application thereof to any person or circumstances shall be held to be invalid, such holding shall not affect, impair or invalidate the remainder of this act, or the application of such section or part of a section held invalid, to any other person or circumstances, but shall be confined in its operation to the item, clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, section or other part of this act directly involved in such holding, or to the person and circumstances therein involved.
§ 3. This act shall take effect January 1, 2018. Effective immediately the public service commission is authorized to promulgate any and all rules and regulations and take any other measures necessary to implement this act on its effective date on or before such date.
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.