BILL NUMBER: S1204
SPONSOR: PARKER
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public service law, in relation to establishing
discount programs for low-income senior citizens and individuals with a
disability
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To provide a discount for senior citizens and disabled individuals in
the state of New York for such persons' utility bills.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 provides for the utility discount program. Authorizes and
directs the commission to require a gas corporation, electric corpo-
ration, or municipality to establish a discount program for low-income
senior citizens and individuals with a disability. Delineates the
eligibility requirements for senior and disabled individuals.
Section 2 provides the water discount program. Authorizes and directs
the commis- sion to require water-works corporations and municipal water
systems to establish a discount program for low-income senior citizens
and individ- uals with a disability. Delineates the eligibility require-
ments for senior and disabled individuals.
Section 3 provides the telephone discount program. Authorizes and
directs the commission to require telephone corporations to provide a
discount program for low-income senior citizens and individuals with a
disability. Delineates the eligibility requirements for senior and disa-
bled individuals
Section 4 provides for the cable television discount program. Author-
izes and directs the commission to require telephone corporations and
cable television corporations to provide a discount program for low-in-
come senior citizens and individuals with a disability. Delineates the
eligibility requirements for senior and disabled individuals
Section 5 sets the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Assistance in meeting the rising cost of utility rates is essential for
senior citizens who face special difficulty in meeting the financial
demands. The recent bill surges on customer utility bills due to supply
side limits left many with bills 4 times higher than expected. A 10%
discount would provide some relief to senior citizens.
Utility rate increases currently take up a considerable amount of low-
income individuals' income, especially our senior citizens who are
living on fixed income. While supply costs and weather-related increases
in energy use are extracurricular elements, utility companies can use
the billing process as a tool to mitigate future supply cost volatility
for our most vulnerable customers.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2021-22: S8492B - COMMITTED TO RULES
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None to the state.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.