What's happening
This bill requires utility companies to establish a priority call system for emergency disconnections, improve service coverage, report response times, and comply with oversight and penalties.
Why it matters
Establishes a direct, always-on communication channel between first responders (police, fire, emergency agencies) and utility companies. for immediate action during emergencies, potentially increasing public safety and reducing response times in critical situations.
Mandates minimum staffing levels for utility service personnel based on local population size. (at least one service person per 20,000 people), which aims to improve service reliability and ensure faster response to emergencies and outages, especially in densely populated or underserved areas.
Requires detailed annual reporting by utility companies on emergency disconnections. , including who requested the disconnection, how quickly it was carried out, and other relevant data—enabling greater transparency and oversight, and imposing daily financial penalties for non-compliance.
Empowers the Public Service Commission to audit, recommend improvements, and fine utilities for inadequate emergency response time or failure to implement mandated changes. , creating stronger accountability and potentially driving operational improvements that benefit public safety and service quality.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Faster Emergency Utility Shutoffs
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
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3075
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 1, 2019
Introduced by Sen. ADDABBO -- 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 a priority call system for use in connection with emergency disconnections of utilities, service coverage and oversight of response time in connection with the emergency disconnection of 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 48-a to read as follows:
§ 48-a. Priority call system and reporting. 1. The commission shall establish a priority call system for use by police and fire departments and agencies in the event of an emergency requiring disconnection of utility services provided by a corporation subject to this article. Such system shall be in operation at all times, and shall provide access to one or more employees of a corporation, which employees shall be authorized to direct the immediate disconnection. The commission shall promulgate such rules and regulations as it deems necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.
2. Each corporation subject to the provisions of this article shall establish a priority call system, in accordance with the rules and regulations of the commission, for use by police and fire departments and agencies in the event of an emergency requiring disconnection of services provided by the corporation.
3. Each corporation subject to the provisions of this chapter shall annually file with the commission a report, in such form as the commission shall prescribe, detailing the dates and circumstances of each requested emergency disconnection, the identity of the person, agency and department making the request, the response to each such request and the time required to accomplish the disconnection of service, together
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06795-01-9
S. 3075 2
with such other information the commission deems relevant. Failure to comply with the provisions of this subdivision shall result in a penalty, payable to the commission, of one thousand dollars per day until such time as the completed report is filed.
§ 2. Section 65 of the public service law is amended by adding a new subdivision 16 to read as follows:
16. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in order to ensure adequate service, each corporation subject to this article shall assign, at a minimum, one service person for every twenty thousand people in the population in each local area served by the corporation.
§ 3. Section 66 of the public service law is amended by adding a new subdivision 29 to read as follows:
29. The commission shall have the power to require each corporation subject to this article, including electric corporations and gas corporations, to maintain records of and file reports regarding the corporation's response times in connection with the disconnection of service provided by the corporation during emergency situations and during emergency and/or disaster preparedness drills conducted by federal, state and local governmental entities, including, but not limited to police and fire departments, and to conduct audits with regard thereto. The commission shall have the power to examine the accounts, books, contracts, records, documents and papers of any such corporation regarding the response time, to direct the corporation to implement any recommendations the commission finds to be necessary and reasonable, and to impose fines for the failure to follow the commission's recommendations.
§ 4. Section 80 of the public service law is amended by adding a new subdivision 13 to read as follows:
13. The commission shall have the power to require each corporation subject to this article to maintain records of the file reports regarding such corporation's response times in connection with the disconnection of service provided by the corporation during emergency situations and during emergency and/or disaster preparedness drills conducted by federal, state and local governmental entities, including, but not limited to police and fire departments, and to conduct audits with regard thereto. The commission shall have the power to examine the accounts, books, contracts, records, documents and papers of any such corporation regarding the response time, to direct such corporations to implement any recommendations the commission finds to be necessary and reasonable, and to impose fines for the failure to follow the commission's recommendations.
§ 5. 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 for a priority call system for use in connection with emergency disconnections of utilities, service coverage and oversight of response time in connection with the emergency disconnection of utilities
Purpose
The bill provides for a priority call system for use in connection with emergency disconnections of utilities, service coverage and oversight of response time.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 - The public service law is amended by adding a new section 48-A.
Section 2 - Section 65 of the public service law is amended by adding a new subdivision 16.
Section 3 - Section 66 of the public service law is amended by adding a new subdivision 29.
Section 4 - Section 80 of the public service law is amended by adding a new subdivision 13.
Section 5 - contains effective date.
Justification
To have a process dealing with disconnecting a power source during an emergency - such as a fire - is extremely important. currently, the utility company is responsible for the disconnection and firefighters are unable to do their job until the utility cuts the power to a build- ing. Low staffing ratios and inadequate process and procedures have lead to delays in such instances. This legislation will put in place proc- esses and procedures to comply with emergency shutoffs and create a mechanism for review to improve response time.
Prior legislative history
2017 S. 3685 - Referred to Energy and Telecommunications 2018 S. 3685 - Referred to Energy and Telecommunications
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.