What's happening
This bill requires electric companies to notify local officials of impending electrical emergencies, who must then inform the public through media outlets.
Why it matters
Improves Public Safety and Preparedness. By ensuring local officials and the public are warned ahead of electrical emergencies, communities have more time to prepare, respond, and take protective actions, potentially reducing harm and confusion during crises.
Requires Transparent and Consistent Communication. Mandating notification to media outlets—including electronic, print, and internet—broadens the reach of emergency information, making it more likely that all residents, including vulnerable populations, receive timely alerts.
Establishes Clear Rules with Local Input. The law directs state regulators to develop detailed protocols with input from both electric companies and municipal officials, aiming for practical, effective procedures tailored to the severity of emergencies and the specific needs of each community.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Warn Public of Power Emergencies
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
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1615
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 15, 2019
Introduced by Sen. PARKER -- 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 providing for the notification of impending emergencies by electric corporations
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 54 to read as follows:
§ 54. Notification of impending emergencies. 1. Every electric corporation shall notify the chief executive officer of a municipality or the designated agency head or department head of a municipality when there is an impending electrical emergency that may affect the municipality. Each municipality notified of a pending electrical emergency shall provide appropriate notice and information to designated media outlets, including but not limited to electronic, print, internet or other designated public media outlets serving such affected municipality.
2. (a) The commission, in conjunction with the attorney general, shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to enforce the provisions of this section. The commission shall solicit input from electric corporations and municipal officials in the process of formulating such rules and regulations.
(b) Such rules and regulations shall include but not be limited to establishing protocols which address the magnitude and severity of the impending emergency, as well as protocols for notification of the public.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07271-01-9
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 for the notification of impending emergencies by electric corporations
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill provides notification of impending emergencies by electrical utility corporations to affected communities.
Summary of specific provisions
This bill would mandate all electrical utility corporations to notify the chief executive officer of a municipality or the designated agency head or department head of a municipality when there is an impending electrical emergency that may affect the municipality. Each municipality notified of a pending electrical emergency shall provide appropriate notice and information to designated media outlets.
The public service commission, with the attorney general, shall promul- gate rules and regulations necessary to enforce the provisions of section one. The commission shall solicit input from electric corpo- rations and municipal officials in the process of formulating such rules and regulations.
Such rules and regulations shall include but not limited to establishing protocols which address the magnitude and Severity of the impending emergency, as well as protocol's for notification of the public. This act shall take effect en the one hundred eightieth day.
Justification
During the recent power cutage in New York City, Con Edison failed te notify customers of the impending blackout, which occurred on July G, 1999, nor were any efforts made to reach a broad number of people through the media. This bill, when enacted would require the utility corporations to do so is the future.
Prior legislative history
2001-02: A.7085 - Referred to Corporations, Authorities & Commissions
2003-04: A.5268 - Referred to Corporations, Authorities & Commissions
2005-06: A.4104 - Referred to Corporations, Authorities & Commissions
2007-08: A.4578 - Referred to Corporations, Authorities & Commissions
2009-10: S.5057B- Referred to Corporations, Authorities & Commissions
2011-12: S.1773 - Referred to Energy and Telecommunications
2013-14: S.1536 - Referred to Energy and Telecommunications
2013-14: S.3873 - Referred to Energy and Telecommunications
2017/18: S.5038 - Energy and Telecommunications
Fiscal implications
Minimal.
Effective date
This act shall take effect 180 days after becoming a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.