What's happening
This bill requires the creation of statewide color-coding standards for utility lines, cables, and conduits to improve emergency identification.
Why it matters
Faster and safer emergency response. Standardized color-coding would allow first responders and utility crews to quickly identify the type of utility (electric, gas, telecom, etc.), reducing confusion and delays during emergencies or natural disasters.
Prevention of accidental damage. Utility workers and contractors would have a clear, consistent way to distinguish between different types of lines and cables, lowering the risk of accidental strikes, outages, or hazardous incidents during repairs or construction.
Statewide consistency. Mandating uniform color standards across all relevant utility providers prevents a patchwork of local practices, making it easier for outside crews or mutual aid teams to assist during large-scale incidents.
Forward-looking safety improvements. By requiring color-coding on all new or repaired lines and poles, the law gradually modernizes the utility infrastructure without imposing the cost or complexity of retrofitting existing installations.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Standardize Conduit Color Codes
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
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
485
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 9, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. M. G. MILLER -- read once and referred to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
AN ACT to amend the public service law, in relation to developing statewide standards for color coding all conduits used, operated or owned by public service corporations for identification purposes
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. On or before January first, two thousand eighteen, the commission shall develop rules and regulations mandating statewide standards for color coding all lines, wires, cables, and conduits used, operated or owned by utility corporations, steam corporations, electric corporations, gas corporations, telephone corporations and telegraph corporations, as such corporations are defined in section two of this article, to facilitate identification of such lines, wires, cables and conduits during times of emergency and/or natural disaster. Color coding shall be accomplished by placement of tags on each connecting end of all lines, wires, cables and conduits and on all utility poles. Such rules and regulations shall apply to all lines, wires, cables, conduits and utility poles installed or repaired by such corporations on or after January first, two thousand eighteen.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02722-01-7
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.