What's happening
This bill requires the Public Service Commission to study and report on time-of-use plans offered by New York's gas and electric utilities.
Why it matters
The bill mandates an in-depth review of all time-of-use (TOU) energy plans. , providing both residential and commercial customers with a comprehensive, side-by-side comparison of pricing structures across utilities. This can help consumers, policymakers, and advocates better understand the real-world availability and competitiveness of TOU options.
It addresses the role of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) in enabling TOU plans. , requiring analysis of whether AMI is necessary for these plans, recommendations for accelerating AMI adoption, and alternative financing strategies. This focus could drive technology upgrades and influence future investments in the state’s energy grid.
The study will examine broader impacts such as the effect of increased electric vehicle (EV) charging during off-peak hours. , which is relevant for grid management, environmental outcomes, and the future of transportation electrification.
Consumer guidance and potential ratepayer impacts are to be included. , offering recommendations for using TOU plans efficiently and assessing possible financial effects on those who switch to such plans—critical for consumer protection and equity considerations as utility pricing evolves.
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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
History
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 62–0
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.231
- Referred to energy and telecommunications
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 60–1
Show 4 earlier actions
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.262
- Referred to energy and telecommunications
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
21
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 9, 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 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;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05548-01-9
S. 21 2
(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.
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
2017/18 - S.7833 ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
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.