What's happening
This bill requires water providers to annually calculate and report water cost indexes to the Public Service Commission for public comparison.
Why it matters
Standardizes how water costs are calculated and compared. By requiring the Public Service Commission to create a uniform formula and factors for the "water cost index," the bill aims to ensure that water cost comparisons across providers are meaningful, transparent, and not misleading due to inconsistent calculation methods.
Empowers consumers and policymakers with accessible data. Publicly posting the annual water cost indexes and statistical analyses will make it easier for residents, advocacy groups, and local governments to see how their water costs compare to others in the state and to identify potential issues or inequities.
Increases accountability for water providers. With annual reporting requirements and mandatory public disclosure, water providers serving over 1,000 customers will face greater scrutiny regarding their pricing structures, potentially prompting more efficient management or justifications for higher costs.
Supports informed decision-making on water policy. The availability of statewide, regional, and provider-type comparisons can help legislators and regulators target reforms, investments, or interventions where water costs are unusually high or rising, benefiting long-term water affordability and equity.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Require Annual Water Cost Reports
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
3 Co-sponsors
History
- Tabled
- Vetoed memo.302
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to assembly
- Passed senateVote 60–0
- 3rd reading cal.2057
- Substituted for S8225
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
- Delivered to senate
- Passed assembly
- Advanced to third reading cal.741
- Reported
Show 5 earlier actions
- Reported referred to codes
- Print number 7183a
- Amend and recommit to corporations, authorities and commissions
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Require Annual Water Cost Reports
Senate Floor Calendar · Sponsor Michael H. Ranzenhofer
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7183--A
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
April 12, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. ZEBROWSKI -- read once and referred to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions -- recommitted to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions in accordance with Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the public service law, in relation to requiring water works corporations and municipal water systems to annually calculate and submit to the public service commission their water cost index
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 89-k to read as follows:
§ 89-k. Water cost index. 1. For the purposes of this section, "water cost index" means the annual cost of water for an average single family household served by a water works corporation or municipal water system. The water cost index shall be calculated using uniform factors developed by the commission including, but not limited to, usage, fees, applicable taxes, meter size and seasonal rate structures.
2. Within six months of the effective date of this section, the commission shall develop a formula for the calculation of a water cost index. Such formula shall include the uniform factors to be used by any water works corporation or municipal water system in calculating its water cost index. The commission shall publish such formula on its website, and shall provide such formula to each water works corporation and municipal water system serving one thousand customers or more. The commission may, from time to time, update such formula.
3. Annually, each water works corporation and municipal water system serving one thousand customers or more shall calculate and submit to the commission its water cost index. The water cost index shall be submitted to the commission within sixty days succeeding the close of its fiscal
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10701-02-8
A. 7183--A 2
year. Municipal water systems may submit its water cost index as part of their annual report as provided for in section eighty-nine-l of this article.
4. Annually, by December thirty-first, the commission shall publish a report on the water cost index of each applicable water works corporation and municipal water system of the preceding calendar year. The report shall provide a statistical analysis of the data and a comparison of water cost indexes throughout the state, including, but not limited to, comparisons based on regions, type of provider, and size.
5. A copy of the report shall be posted on the commission's website and the commission shall notify the temporary president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly, the chair of the senate energy and telecommunications committee, and the chair of the assembly corporations, authorities and commissions committee of its posting and any updates made thereto.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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.