BILL NUMBER: S1535
SPONSOR: PARKER
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public service law, in relation to establishing
requirements and penalties for combination utility companies during
service outages
 
PURPOSE:
This legislation. amends the public service law by authorizing the
public service commission to establish acceptable standards of perform-
ance for combination utility companies during power outages and power
restoration efforts; imposes penalties for failure to perform.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends the public service law by adding a new section 66-T.
Subsection la- grants power to the public service commission to set
forth standards of acceptable performance that combination utility
companies must abide by during power outages and power restoration
efforts.
Subsection. 1b- sets forth. the requirement that the commission. insti-
tute appropriate penalties against combination utility companies that
have failed to reasonably comply with the provisions of this chapter and
outlines examples of such penalties.
Subsection 1c- sets forth the definition of "combination utility compa-
ny"
Subsection 2 - sets forth requirements that the commission establish a
schedule for rebates and credits for service outages
Subsection 3 - authorizes the commission to investigative and review
performance of combination utilities and determine culpability of combi-
nation utility companies in restoring power
Subsection 4 - ensures that the fiscal responsibility of all penalties
remain solely the responsibility of the combination utility company and
are not added to the bills of customers.
Section. 2 sets forth the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
To quell customers' uncertainties surrounding service outages and to
ensure that families and small businesses are better protected during
those times, we must enact standards for utilities' preparedness and
response during emergencies and service. outages. To reinforce those
protections for our. New York residents, it is critical that we hold
utility companies liable, per violation, do the event they fail to
reasonably protect against or properly respond during such service
outages. These kinds of actions are especially important for New York
state which has historically dealt with issues surrounding the severe
storm response provided by utilities- i.e, during Hurricane'Sandy,
Hurricane Ida, and Hurricane Irene.
When utility companies failed to properly respond during those storms,
families around the state dealt with the resulting severe consequenc-
es,with plenty being forced out of their homes. This bill proposes that
the Public Service Commission develop and establish a penalty system for
combination utilities companies who fail to reasonably respond during
service outages. This would grant the necessary safeguards to ensure
that all customers are properly protected.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023/24- 2586 REVISED 1/18/24
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
xxx
 
EFFECTIVE MAIL:
This act shall take effect immediately