BILL NUMBER: S7490
SPONSOR: SKOUFIS
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public service law, the public authorities law and
the general business law, in relation to requiring utility companies
maintain a toll free number for reporting service outages
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This legislation would require any gas, electric, as and electric,
water, steam, telegraph, telephone, cable television company, Internet
service provider, or municipality rendering equivalent utility services
to have a 24/7 staffed telephone line for customers to report service
outages.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends the public service law by adding a new section 119-d to
the which would require any gas, electric, gas and electric, water,
steam, telegraph, telephone, cable television company, Internet service
provider or municipality rendering equivalent utility services to have a
24/7 staffed telephone line for customers to report service outages.
This number must be attended 24/7, have the capacity to adequately
address a surge in phone call volume during an emergency situation or
extreme weather condition, and be posted clearly and conspicuously on
the homepage of the company's website as well as on the bill.
Section 2 amends the public authorities law by adding a new section
1020-mm which would require any gas, electric, gas and electric, water,
steam, telegraph, telephone, cable television company, internet service
provider or municipality rendering equivalent utility services to have a
24/7 staffed telephone line for customers to report service outages.
This number must be attended 24/7, have the capacity to adequately
address a surge in phone call volume during an emergency situation or
extreme weather condition, and be posted clearly and conspicuously on
the homepage of the company's website as well as on the bill.
Section 3 amends the general business law by adding a new section
399-yyyy which would require any gas, electric, gas and electric, water,
steam, telegraph, telephone, cable television company, internet service
provider or municipality rendering equivalent utility services to have a
24/7 staffed telephone line for customers to report service outages.
This number must be attended 24/7, have the capacity to adequately
address a surge in phone call volume during an emergency situation or
extreme weather condition, and be posted clearly and conspicuously on
the homepage of the company's website as well as on the bill.
Section 4 sets the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Ask any New Yorker and they will tell you about the frustration they
have in reaching a company when there is a problem. Often the ability to
communicate with this entity is unnecessarily difficult, especially to
older New Yorkers. Public utilities exist to serve the public, and it is
imperative that ratepayers have an ability to communicate with these
companies about service issues that may arise during an emergency situ-
ation. To leave the public without an outlet to be heard is simply unac-
ceptable. This legislation is simple and straightforward, it is good
public policy and a good business practice to make the ability for
customers to be able to contact their provider when there is a service
issue as easy as possible.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2019-20: A10999-Referred to Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
2021-22: A3247-Referred to Ways and Means
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have
become a law.