What's happening
This bill requires the Public Service Commission to create and publish a residential water cost index for large water providers in New York.
Why it matters
Creates a standardized way to compare residential water costs across New York. By requiring the Public Service Commission to develop a uniform formula, the bill makes it possible to compare what average households pay for water—even when served by different providers or living in different regions.
Increases transparency and accountability for water providers. Annual reporting and publication of the residential water cost index, along with statistical analysis and comparisons, will make it easier for the public, policymakers, and regulators to spot unusually high costs or outliers.
Empowers consumers and policymakers with actionable data. Access to clear, comparative water cost information may help residents advocate for fair rates, influence local policy decisions, and inform state-level regulation or intervention if disparities are found.
Covers both private and municipal water systems serving 1,000+ customers. The inclusion of both types of providers ensures broad coverage across the state, capturing the majority of New York residents who receive water from larger systems.
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Who cares
Public Service Commission
The commission would develop a uniform water cost formula and publish annual reports comparing residential water costs across the state.
Water-works corporations and municipal water systems serving at least 1,000 customers
These providers would have to calculate and submit their residential water cost index annually within 60 days after their fiscal year ends.
Single-family households served by covered water providers
The published indexes would let them compare average annual household water costs across regions, provider types and provider sizes.
Senate and Assembly leaders and relevant committee chairs
They would receive notice when the commission posts its annual report or updates it.
Headline styles
Track Water Costs Statewide
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7770
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
May 20, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. ZEBROWSKI -- read once and referred to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
AN ACT to amend the public service law, in relation to requiring the public service commission to develop a formula for the calculation of a residential water cost index; requiring each water-works corporation and municipal water system serving one thousand customers or more to calculate and submit to the public service commission its residential water cost index; and requiring the public service commission to publish a report on the residential water cost index of each applicable water-works corporation and municipal water system
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 89-k to read as follows:
§ 89-k. Residential water cost index. 1. For the purposes of this section, "residential water cost index" means the annual cost of water for an average single family household served by a water-works corporation or municipal water system. The water cost index shall be calculated using uniform factors developed by the commission including, but not limited to, usage, fees, applicable taxes, meter size and seasonal rate structures.
2. Within six months of the effective date of this section, the commission shall develop a formula for the calculation of a residential water cost index. Such formula shall include the uniform factors to be used by any water-works corporation or municipal water system in calculating its water cost index. The commission shall publish such formula on its website, and shall provide such formula to each water-works corporation and municipal water system serving one thousand customers or more. The commission may, from time to time, update such formula.
3. Annually, each water-works corporation and municipal water system serving one thousand customers or more shall calculate and submit to the
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11084-01-9
A. 7770 2
commission its residential water cost index. The water cost index shall be submitted to the commission within sixty days succeeding the close of its fiscal year. Municipal water systems may submit its water cost index as part of their annual report as provided for in section eighty-nine-l of this article.
4. Annually, by December thirty-first, the commission shall publish a report on the residential water cost index of each applicable waterworks corporation and municipal water system of the preceding calendar year. The report shall provide a statistical analysis of the data and a comparison of residential water cost indexes throughout the state, including, but not limited to, comparisons based on regions, type of provider, and size.
5. A copy of the report shall be posted on the commission's website and the commission shall notify 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 corporations, authorities and commissions committee of its posting and any updates made thereto.
§ 2. Section 89-l of the public service law is amended by adding a new subdivision 3 to read as follows:
3. Each municipal water system serving one thousand customers or more shall calculate and submit a residential water cost index to the public service commission pursuant to section eighty-nine-k of this article.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.