What's happening
This bill prohibits utilities from imposing service moratoriums in New York cities with populations of 200,000 or more.
Why it matters
Directly affects cities with large populations. By banning service moratoriums in cities of 200,000+ people, the bill ensures that residents and businesses in New York’s largest cities cannot have new or expanded utility services halted, impacting urban development and daily life.
Limits utility company leverage. Utilities often use moratoriums as a negotiation tactic during disputes over infrastructure upgrades, environmental concerns, or regulatory issues. This bill removes that tool in major cities, potentially shifting the balance of power toward local governments and consumers.
Supports continuous economic and housing development. Prohibiting moratoriums can help prevent delays in construction, housing, and business projects that depend on new or upgraded energy services, thereby supporting job creation and economic growth in New York’s urban centers.
Could influence statewide utility and regulatory policy. By creating a precedent for banning moratoriums in large cities, the bill could prompt discussions about utility service obligations and regulatory approaches in other parts of the state, possibly leading to broader reforms.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Utility Service Moratoriums
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to energy and telecommunications
- Referred to rules
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6748
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
September 25, 2019
Introduced by Sen. PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the public service law, in relation to prohibiting utilities from imposing a moratorium on services in cities with a population of two hundred thousand or more
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 65 of the public service law, as amended by chapter 789 of the laws of 1930, is amended to read as follows:
1. Every gas corporation, every electric corporation and every municipality shall furnish and provide such service, instrumentalities and facilities as shall be safe and adequate and in all respects just and reasonable. No gas corporation, electric corporation or municipality shall impose a moratorium on such service in any city with a population of two hundred thousand people or more. All charges made or demanded by any such gas corporation, electric corporation or municipality for gas, electricity or any service rendered or to be rendered, shall be just and reasonable and not more than allowed by law or by order of the commission. Every unjust or unreasonable charge made or demanded for gas, electricity or any such service, or in connection therewith, or in excess of that allowed by law or by the order of the commission is prohibited.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13861-01-9
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 prohibiting utilities from imposing a moratorium on services in cities with a population of two hundred thousand or more
Purpose
To halt unnecessary suspensions in service to both business and residen- tial customers
Summary of provisions
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 65 of the public service law, is amended by chapter 789 of the law of 1930, is amended.
Section 2. Effective date
Justification
Small business owners and families become victims when utility companies flex their muscle and impose unnecessary moratoriums on services they provide that hinder one's necessity to live comfortably. Necessities such as cooking, hot water for bathing, or the need to heat one's home.
Most of the time, moratoriums are intended to alleviate temporary finan- cial hardship or provide time to resolve a related issues. This defi- nition does not define what is taking place in New York City right now.
This lawful mechanism is being used as a bullying tactic, and not as a means to resolve an issue. In fact, this particular issuance of a mora- torium will no doubt put a strain on other utilities.
This bill prohibits such actions in the future, ensuring that the first priority of these utility companies should be their customers --the citizens of New York.
Legislative history
None
Fiscal implications
TBD
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.