What's happening
This bill adds a representative from the utility intervention unit in the consumer protection division to the state energy planning board.
Why it matters
Brings consumer advocacy directly into state energy planning. by adding a representative from the Utility Intervention Unit, which specifically focuses on protecting utility customers’ interests, to the decision-making table.
Could increase scrutiny of utility rate proposals and energy policies. by ensuring consumer protection concerns are heard alongside those of regulators, industry, and environmental agencies during the development of the state’s energy plan.
May shift the board’s priorities or influence outcomes. on issues such as affordability, reliability, and consumer impact of energy projects, potentially leading to more balanced or consumer-friendly state energy policies.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Add Consumer Advocate to Board
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
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
1978
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 11, 2017
Introduced by Sens. COMRIE, MONTGOMERY, PERKINS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Energy and Telecommunications
AN ACT to amend the energy law, in relation to the composition of the state energy planning board
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 6-102 of the energy law, as amended by chapter 195 of the laws of 2011, is amended to read as follows:
1. There shall be established a state energy planning board, hereinafter referred to as the "board", which shall consist of the chair of the public service commission, the commissioner of environmental conservation, the commissioner of economic development, the commissioner of transportation, the commissioner of labor, the commissioner of the division of homeland security and emergency services, the commissioner of agriculture and markets, the commissioner of health, the secretary of state and the president of the New York state energy research and development authority. The governor, the speaker of the assembly and the temporary president of the senate shall each appoint one additional representative to serve on the board; in addition, the secretary of state shall appoint, from the utility intervention unit with the consumer protection division established in section ninety-four-a of the executive law, an additional person to serve on the board. The presiding officer of the federally designated electric bulk system operator (BSO) shall serve as a non-voting member of the board. Any decision or action by the board shall be by majority vote. The president of the New York state energy research and development authority shall serve as chair of the board. Members of the board may designate an executive staff representative to participate on the board on their behalf.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00183-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the energy law, in relation to the composition of the state energy planning board
Purpose
The bill will restore consumer representation on the State Energy Planning Board.
Summary of provisions
Amends subdivision 1 of section 6-102 of the energy law, directing the Secretary of State to appoint a representative from the Consumer Protection Division's Utility Intervention Unit to serve on the State Energy Planning Board.
Justification
Over the past 15 years there has been a steep decline in state and independent resources dedicated to consumer advocacy. New York used to have a robust network of state and not-for-profit entities whose mission was to stand up for the interests of residents, small businesses and low-income families when it came to energy matters. In 1994, the Consumer Protection Board had 31 staff people dedicated to utility intervention. There were also independent advocates like the Citizens' Utility Board and the Public Utility Law Project. Since that time, the utility industry has been deregulated, creating a complicated and confusing marketplace, and these important groups have been dissolved and de-funded, leaving the average citizen without a voice.
The Consumer Protection Board was eliminated in 2012. The Utility Intervention Unit was transferred to the Department of State. However, their seat on the State Energy Planning Board was not included in the new statute. This legislation will restore their representation on the Board, ensuring the considerations of consumer interests are included in the State Energy plan.
Legislative history
2015-16: S.4427 Referred to Energy and Telecommunications 2013-14: S.5290
Fiscal implications
None to the State.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.