What's happening
The bill expands the definition of "major utility transmission facility" to include certain electric substations and large distribution facilities.
Why it matters
Brings more electric substations under stricter state oversight. By expanding the definition of "major utility transmission facility," the bill means that more substations—especially larger ones or those that transfer electricity between transmission and distribution systems—would be subject to the state's siting and approval process, potentially affecting how quickly or easily such facilities can be built.
Could affect the pace and cost of grid upgrades. Since the siting process for major facilities is typically more rigorous and time-consuming, utilities may face additional regulatory hurdles, which could slow down projects aimed at modernizing or expanding the electricity grid, with possible cost implications for ratepayers.
Enhances local input and environmental review. Facilities captured by the expanded definition would be subject to public hearings, environmental reviews, and other procedural safeguards, giving communities a greater voice in decisions about new or expanded substations and large distribution facilities in their area.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Expand Utility Facility Definition
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to energy and telecommunications
- Referred to energy and telecommunications
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
101
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 4, 2017
Introduced by Sen. HOYLMAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Energy and Telecommunications
AN ACT to amend the public service law, in relation to the siting of electric substations
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 2 of section 120 of the public service law, as amended by chapter 538 of the laws of 1981, is amended to read as follows:
2. "Major utility transmission facility" means: (a) an electric transmission line of a design capacity of one hundred twenty-five kilovolts or more extending a distance of one mile or more, or of one hundred kilovolts or more and less than one hundred twenty-five kilovolts, extending a distance of ten miles or more, including associated equipment, but shall not include any such transmission line located wholly underground in a city with a population in excess of one hundred twenty-five thousand or a primary transmission line approved by the federal energy regulatory commission in connection with a hydro-electric facility; [and] (b) a fuel gas transmission line extending a distance of one thousand feet or more to be used to transport fuel gas at pressures of one hundred twenty-five pounds per square inch or more, excluding appurtenant facilities, but shall not include any such transmission line which is located wholly underground in a city or wholly within the right of way of a state, county or town highway or village street as those terms are defined in article one of the highway law and article six of the village law, or which replaces an existing transmission line, including appurtenant facilities, and extends a distance of less than one mile; and (c) a facility in which electric current is transformed from the transmission system to the distribution system or a facility within the distribution system that is larger than five hundred square feet and in which electric current is transformed.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05315-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public service law, in relation to the siting of electric substations
Purpose or general idea of the bill
Provides for a review by the Public Service Commission of the siting of electric substations.
Summary of specific provisions
The bill amends Article VII of the Public Service Law ("Siting of Transmission Facilities") to include "a facility in which electric current is transformed from the transmission system to the distribution system or a facility within the distribution system that is larger than five hundred square feet and in which electric current is transformed" within the definition of a "transmission facility." This would extend all the requirements of Article VII to electric substations.
Article VII sets out a procedure for the granting of a certificate of environmental capability and public need before a facility can be built. This procedure includes environmental impact studies, public hearings, and judicial review of the decision.
Justification
Siting a substation is within the unreviewed discretion of a utility. No procedure exists for the siting of electric substations, even though a utility can take property for a substation site by condemnation. These substations can have significant impacts on the surrounding communities, especially in densely populated areas. Substations generate electro-magnetic fields, which are thought by some to increase the risk of certain cancers.
Electric substations should be subject to Public Service Commission review, just as power plants and transmission lines are.
Prior legislative history
S.494 of 2015-2016 (Hoylman): Died in Energy & Telecommunications A.3858 of 2015-2016 (Gottfried): Died in Corporations, Authorities & Commissions S.3076 of 2013-2014 (Hoylman): Died in Energy A.5355 of 2013-2014 (Gottfried): Died in Corporations
Fiscal implications
Minimal.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.