What's happening
This bill requires all electric and gas meters serving end-use customers to be inspected and regulated by the Public Service Commission.
Why it matters
Expands oversight to all customer meters. By specifying that every electric and gas meter serving any end-use customer must be inspected, the bill closes previous loopholes where some meters may have avoided regulation, ensuring uniform consumer protection.
Promotes accuracy and consumer trust. Regular inspections by Public Service Commission (PSC) inspectors mean customers are less likely to be over- or under-charged, fostering greater trust in utility billing and reducing disputes over meter errors.
Increases accountability for utilities. Utilities, municipalities, and private providers are now explicitly required to use only PSC-approved meters, which could push companies to maintain or upgrade equipment, potentially raising operational standards across the industry.
Potential for more frequent meter testing. The mandate for inspection, approval, and marking of all meters and testing apparatus could lead to more systematic and frequent evaluation of equipment, possibly leading to earlier detection of faults and improved service reliability.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Inspect All Utility Meters
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to energy and telecommunications
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.
Inspect All Utility Meters
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Andrew Hevesi
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1845
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 11, 2017
Introduced by Sen. SQUADRON -- 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 requiring inspection and regulation of all electric and gas meters that measure usage of any end use customer of electricity or gas services by the public service commission
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 67 of the public service law, as amended by chapter 446 of the laws of 1972, is amended to read as follows:
1. The commission shall appoint inspectors of electric and gas meters which for the purposes of this section shall mean all electric and gas meters that measure usage of any end use customer of electricity or gas services whose duty it shall be, when required by the commission, to inspect, examine and ascertain the accuracy of any and all electric and gas meters used or intended to be used for measuring and ascertaining the quantity of electric current or gas furnished for light, heat or power by any person, corporation or municipality to or for the use of any person or corporation, and to inspect, examine and ascertain the accuracy of all apparatus for testing and proving the accuracy of electric and gas meters, and when found to be or made to be correct the inspector shall stamp or mark all such meters and apparatus with some suitable device, which device shall be recorded in the office of the secretary of state. No corporation, person or municipality shall furnish, set or put in use any electric or gas meter the type of which shall not have been approved by the commission.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law; provided, however, that effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02370-01-7
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 requiring inspection and regulation of all electric and gas meters that measure usage of any end use customer of electricity or gas services by the public service commission
Purpose
The purpose of this bill is to require that the Public Service Commission has jurisdiction to inspect and regulate all electric and gas meters that measure usage of any end use customer of electricity or gas services in the same way that PSC currently has oversight of master meters, or revenue grade meter.
Summary of provisions
This legislation amends subdivision one of section 67 of the public service law, as amended by chapter 446 of the laws of 1972.
Justification
A large number of buildings throughout New York State are currently undergoing the process of converting their master metered system to either sub or individual meters. This movement is one that policy makers should encourage as an incredibly important and positive part of the effort to promote energy conservation and efficiency. However, one significant gap in the current laws and regulations regarding sub-metering is that there currently is no oversight or regulation of the actual sub-meters that are being placed into tenant's apartments. The result is that tenants have no recourse to handle sub-meters that are faulty or overcharge, except to take it to the company that installed them or the management company that hired that company, This bill will require oversight by the Public Service Commission to ensure that the meters installed are appropriate, not overcharging, and meet all other standards set by the PSC.
Legislative history
2016: S577/A1877 - REFERRED TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS/ reported from energy and referred to ways and means 2015: S577/A1877 - REFERRED TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS/advanced to third reading 2013-2014: S221/A50 - REFERRED TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS/advanced to third reading 2011-2012: S1511/A41 - REFERRED TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATION/advanced to third reading 2009-2010: S2348A (Schneiderman)/A186B - REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE/Passed Assembly
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.