What's happening
This bill allows utility companies to require applicants to provide valid photo ID or a document showing their name and address when requesting service.
Why it matters
Could make it harder for individuals without traditional forms of ID (such as the homeless, undocumented immigrants, or recent arrivals) to access basic utility services, potentially increasing vulnerability for already marginalized groups.
May help utility companies verify the identity of applicants more rigorously, possibly reducing instances of fraud or unpaid bills under false identities, which could impact overall service costs and reliability.
Introduces new compliance and administrative requirements for utility providers, who will need to verify and process identification documents, potentially lengthening the time it takes to start service and adding operational complexity.
Could create privacy concerns or data security challenges, as more sensitive personal information would be collected and stored by utility companies, raising questions about how that data is used and protected.
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Who cares
Residential gas and electric service applicants
They could be required to provide personal identification, such as a valid photo ID or a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck or government document showing their name and address.
Gas and electric corporations
The bill would expressly allow them to require personal identification from applicants for residential service.
Municipal utility providers
They would also gain express authority to require identification when handling residential service applications.
Headline styles
Require ID for Utility Service
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
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 ID for Utility Service
In Assembly Committee · Consumer Affairs And Protection · Sponsor Fred Thiele
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
S. 4115 A. 4794
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
SENATE - ASSEMBLY
February 3, 2017
IN SENATE -- Introduced by Sen. LAVALLE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Energy and Telecommunications
IN ASSEMBLY -- Introduced by M. of A. THIELE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection
AN ACT to amend the public service law, in relation to providing applicant identification for applications of service
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 31 of the public service law, as added by chapter 713 of the laws of 1981, is amended to read as follows:
1. Every gas corporation, electric corporation or municipality shall provide residential service upon the oral or written request of an applicant, provided that the commission may require that requests for service be in writing under circumstances as it deems necessary and proper as set forth by regulation, and provided further that the applicant:
(a) makes full payment for residential utility service provided to a prior account in his or her name; or
(b) agrees to make payments under a deferred payment plan of any amounts due for service to a prior account in his or her name and makes a down payment based on criteria to be established by the commission. No such down payment shall exceed one-half of any money due from an applicant for residential utility service, or three months average billing, whichever is less; or
(c) is a recipient of public assistance, supplemental security income or additional state payments pursuant to the social services law, or is an applicant for such assistance, income or payments, and the utility corporation or the municipality receives payment from, or is notified of the applicant's eligibility for utility payments by the social services
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04115-01-7
S. 4115 2 A. 4794
official of the social services district in which such person resides for amounts due for service to a prior account in the applicant's name, together with guarantee of future payments to the extent authorized by the social services law; or
(d) may be required to show proper personal identification such as a current and valid photo identification or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the name and address of the applicant.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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 providing applicant identification for applications of service
Purpose or general idea of bill
Provides for applicant identification for applications of service.
Summary of specific provisions
Amends Subdivision 1 of Section 31 of the Public Service Law to provide that an individual applying for a residential utility service may be required to show proper personal identification such as a current and valid photo identification or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the name and address of the applicant.
Justification
Current law makes it easy for an individual to open a residential service utility account with little proof of identification, and many new accounts are opened over the phone. This scenario has created situations in which individuals open fraudulent accounts in other people's names; a form of identity theft. This legislation would allow utilities companies to request proper personal identification to ensure that utility service accounts are being opened in the correct individuals name and would help combat against identify theft and fraudulent, delinquent accounts.
Prior legislative history
2016: A.9824/S.7260
Fiscal implications
None.
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.