BILL NUMBER: S641A
SPONSOR: RYAN S
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public service law, in relation to enacting the
"home utility weatherization jobs act"
 
PURPOSE:
This bill would create a statewide program to task utility companies
with enhancing insulation in thousands of houses across the state.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Short title.
Section 2: Outlines the necessity of improving the insulation of homes
to meet the state's greenhouse gas emission reduction goals outlined in
the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). It also
requires the public service commission to authorize utilities to begin
the development and implementation of targeted weatherization programs
to further the goals of the CLCPA.
Section 3: Amends the public service law by adding a new section 66-x:
Subsection 1: definitions.
Subsection 2: directs the public service commission (PSC) to begin the
process of developing a weatherization improvement program for the
purpose of meeting equity and emissions goals of the CLCPA within three
months of the effective date.
Subsection 3: directs utility companies to submit a weatherization
program plan to the PSC for review and approval. This section also
outlines what must be in the weatherization program plan (including
requirements that the plan serve low- to moderate-income customers in
disadvantaged communities).
Subsection 4: specifies that within one year of the effective date of
this section the PSC shall determine whether it is in the public inter-
est to approve or modify the weatherization program plans.
Subsection 5: outlines data collection requirements.
Subsection 6: directs the PSC to authorize utility companies to collect
the costs associated with the weatherization program. Specifies that
unrecovered expense balances will be charged at pretax levels.
Subsection 7: outlines reporting requirements for utility companies.
Reports shall be made available on the PSC website.
Subsection 8: requires that all labor involved in conducting energy
audits be union labor.
Subsection 9: specifies that a labor peace agreement is a necessary
condition for PSC authorization to implement a weatherization program.
Section 4: Effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
New York State homes are out of date when it comes to meeting insulation
standards. In Buffalo, 90* of the housing stock was built before the
1980s, when modern insulation standards were put into place. This means
that many houses are inefficient at retaining heat in the winter and
staying cool in the summer. As summers and winters become progressively
harsher due to climate change, wide-scale modernization is necessary.
This weatherization effort will help homeowners and renters lower their
utility bills and will also make their homes safer during significant
weather events. When homes lose power during a winter storm, like many
did in Buffalo in December of 2022, adequate insulation can save lives.
Weatherization is also a key part of reducing climate emissions. Large-
scale insulation upgrades will help the state meet its CLCPA goals.
Installing heat pumps and electrifying homes will be key parts of our
efforts to reach these goals. In order to more effectively reduce energy
use, the insulation and building envelopes of these homes must be sound.
Proper weatherization can have a significant climate impact independent
of properly preparing the state for ambitious energy transitions as
well: Properly insulating just 20,000 pre-1980s homes would generate a
similar annual reduction of carbon emissions as taking nearly 2,500 cars
off the road.
Leveraging utility companies to perform the weatherization programs
would allow the costs associated with large-scale insulation efforts to
be amortized over many years and spread across the entire customer base.
There would be no cost to the state or to the individual homeowners, and
only a nominal cost to all ratepayers. This program will be focused on
low-to moderate-income utility customers who would otherwise be unable
to adequately insulate their homes. The increased efficiency of their
heating and cooling systems will also lead to a decrease in their month-
ly utility bill.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2024:S.8575/A.9746 Passed Senate
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None to the state.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.