What's happening
This bill requires the Public Service Commission to study, report on, and make recommendations regarding time-of-use energy plans offered by utilities.
Why it matters
The bill mandates a thorough review of all time-of-use (TOU) energy plans available to both residential and commercial customers in New York, providing consumers and policymakers with detailed comparisons of pricing and restrictions across utilities.
By requiring recommendations on Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), the bill aims to address technological barriers to TOU adoption, explore incentives for AMI expansion, and consider alternative financing for residential AMI installation—potentially accelerating statewide modernization of energy infrastructure.
The study must assess the potential for increased off-peak electric vehicle charging, which could inform strategies to manage grid loads, reduce peak demand, and maximize the environmental and economic benefits of EV adoption.
By including consumer guidance and analysis of possible ratepayer impacts, the bill seeks to empower New Yorkers to make informed decisions about TOU plans and anticipate how switching plans might affect their energy bills, thus promoting transparency and consumer protection.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Study Utility Time-Of-Use Plans
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to energy and telecommunications
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7883
IN SENATE
March 6, 2018
Introduced by Sen. PERALTA -- 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 directing the public service commission to conduct a study and report on time-of-use plans offered by gas and electric utilities
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 66-p to read as follows:
§ 66-p. Time-of-use study and report. The commission shall conduct a study and compile a report analyzing the available time-of-use plans offered by all gas and electric utility companies conducting business in the state. Such study and report shall include, but not be limited to:
(a) all available time-of-use plans from all gas and electric utility companies in the state that are available to residential customers;
(b) all available time-of-use plans from all gas and electric utility companies in the state that are available to commercial customers;
(c) details about prices, including a comparison of the prices for different types of plans for each such utility company;
(d) recommendations regarding Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) including, but not limited to, whether the utility companies' plans require an AMI to implement a time-of-use plan, recommendations on how to incentivize AMI growth in the state, and recommendations on alternative ways to finance the installation of AMI in residences;
(e) recommendations regarding the impacts of increased electric-vehicle use in off-peak timeframes;
(f) details regarding restrictions on time-of-use plans listed by each utility company;
(g) recommendations for consumers on how to use time-of-use plans most efficiently; and
(h) include possible impacts on ratepayers if they choose time-of-use plans.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14737-02-8
S. 7883 2
The commission shall publish a report of its findings within one hundred eighty days of the effective date of this section. Copies of such report shall be submitted to 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 energy committee. The commission shall also publish the report online.
§ 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 directing the public service commission to conduct a study and report on time-of-use plans offered by gas and electric utilities
Purpose
To amend the public service law, in relation to directing the Public Service Commission to conduct a study and report on time-of-use plans offered by gas and electric utilities
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends the public service law to add a new section 66-p, directing the Public Service Commission to conduct and publish a study analyzing available time-of-use plans offered by all gas and electric utility companies, and sets guidelines and parameters relating to such study. The study shall analyze time variant plans available to both residential and commercial customers, comparative prices of those plans, Advanced Metering Infrastructure (at times referred to as Smart Meters) and costs relating thereto, potential impacts on rates, and how to incentivize and effectively advertise these plans to customers.
Section 2 sets forth the effective date.
Justification
Through the Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) initiative, the Clean Energy Standard (CES), and other programs, regulators and market partic- ipants are working toward achieving a significant increase in renewable generation capacity by 2030. Measures to increase energy efficiency are a key component of this goal.
This proposal would direct the PSC study the impacts that time variant pricing could have on grid efficiency and peak usage hours. Time variant pricing plans can provide significant savings to certain ratepayers, allowing them to pay lower rates during off peak hours, while incentiv- izing reduced usage during peak hours. As New York continues to pursue aggressive energy goals, this proposed report will explore the tremen- dous opportunity to achieve greater efficiency using programs and rate structures already in place.
Decreasing demand on the grid, increasing grid efficiency, and improving grid elasticity are key components of many initiatives currently under- way. The proposed study would provide insight as to whether or not time variant pricing could significantly affect these areas, and work towards the commitment to transition into a greener and more renewable energy economy.
Legislative history
New Bill
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.