What's happening
This bill limits charges to residential consumers for zero emissions credit costs related to nuclear power to no more than 25 cents per month.
Why it matters
Directly limits monthly energy bill increases. for residential consumers by capping the pass-through cost of zero emissions credits linked to nuclear power, ensuring households aren’t unexpectedly burdened with higher fees.
Shifts more of the financial responsibility for nuclear plant support away from individual residential ratepayers. , potentially requiring other funding sources or larger consumers (like businesses) to cover any remaining costs.
Addresses concerns about fairness and transparency in utility billing. , making it clearer for consumers exactly how much they are paying to support nuclear energy’s role in reducing emissions.
May influence future debates on how clean energy initiatives are funded. , potentially setting a precedent for consumer cost protections in other renewable or low-carbon energy programs.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Cap Zero Emission Charges
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
3 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to energy and telecommunications
- Referred to energy and telecommunications
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Cap Green Energy Surcharges
In Assembly Committee · Energy · Sponsor Jeffrey Dinowitz
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3671
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 12, 2019
Introduced by Sens. GIANARIS, BAILEY, KAVANAGH, PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Energy and Telecommunications
AN ACT relating to prohibiting certain charges to residential consumers in connection with the purchase of zero emissions credits
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Notwithstanding any other law, rule, regulation, or order, no public utility company, the New York Power Authority, or the Long Island Power Authority shall charge a residential consumer more than 25 cents per month for costs related to the purchase of zero emissions credit from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, or any other entity, and associated with the continued operation of nuclear powered generating facility or facilities.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01257-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act relating to prohibiting certain charges to residential consumers in connection with the purchase of zero emissions credits
Purpose
This bill would cap the monthly cost assessed to residential utility consumers as a result of the Zero-Emissions Credit (ZEC) program, part of the Public Service Commission's Clean Energy Standard (CES).
Summary of provisions
Section 1 prohibits a utility from charging residential consumers more than 25 cents per month for costs related to the purchase of zero emis- sions credit from NYSERDA or any other entity
Justification
On August 1, 2016, the New York State Public Service Commission approved the Clean Energy Standard (CES) (Case 15-E-0302), which established the goal of obtaining 50% of the state's electricity from renewable sources by 2030. A component of the CES is the twelve-year "Zero-Emissions Cred- it" (ZEC) requirement. As a result of such requirement, in the first two years, 2017-2019, all New York energy consumers will pay a rate increase of $965 million to subsidize four upstate nuclear powered generating facilities (Fitzpatrick, Ginna, and Nine Mile units 1 and 2), with rates increasing as high as 10% for each two-year interval through the end of program.
On April 1, 2017, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) entered into a 12 year contract with the owner of the four nuclear powered generating facilities. Pursuant to the order, NYSERDA has purchased "Zero-Emissions Credits" (ZECs) from the facili- ties' owner. According to the order, a ZEC is a credit for the zero-em- issions attributes of one-megawatt hour of electricity produced by such facilities. Utilities are then required to purchase a proportional share of the ZECs from NYSERDA, inevitably passing on the costs to their customers.
The Department of Public Service proposed the version of the ZEC requirement that was adopted (with small modifications) by the Public Service Commission on July 8, 2016. Approximately three weeks later, on August 1, 2016, the CES order, which included the ZEC requirement, was adopted.
Similar legislation in Illinois included a cap of the cost being passed on to rate payers. Illinois is the home state of the beneficiary of the ZEC program. This bill would provide a similar consumer protection afforded to Illinois rate payers. The Illinois cap was touted by the nuclear powered generating facility owners following passage of the legislation.
Legislative history
2018: Died in Energy and Telecommunications 2017: Died in Rules
Fiscal implications
None to the state
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.