BILL NUMBER: S1711
SPONSOR: BROUK
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public service law, in relation to semi-annual
expenditures and lobbying reports
 
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this bill is to require all gas, electric, gas & elec-
tric, steam, and water utilities to report to the Public Service Commis-
sion their expenses relating to advertising and lobbying. Requires
every utility corporation to provide an expenditures and lobbying report
by March 31, 2026, and every semi-annual period thereafter, to the
department of public service.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of the bill creates new section 53-B of the Public Service Law
to require residential gas, electric, and steam corporations to report
to the Public Service Commission semi-annually their lobbying and adver-
tising expenses.
Section 2 of the bill creates new section 66-V of the Public Service Law
to require gas and electric corporations to report to the Public Service
Commission semi-annually their lobbying and advertising expenses.
Section 3 of the bill creates new section 78-A of the Public Service Law
to require steam corporations to report to the Public Service Commission
semi-annually their lobbying and advertising expenses.
Section 4 of the bill creates new section 89-Q of the Public Service Law
to require water- works corporations to report to the Public Service
Commission semi-annually their lobbying and advertising expenses.
Section 5 establishes the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
This legislation will increase transparency from utility companies
relating to their lobbying and advertising campaigns within the state.
This legislation is modeled after section 1020-kk of the public authori-
ties law, which mandates LIPA to submit a similar report to the PSC
outlining its lobbying (chapter 49 of the Laws of 2022.)
While New York State currently prohibits utilities from including lobby-
ing in their operational costs during rate determinations, the public
should be able to see the costs of the efforts the company makes to
influence the legislature and the governor on bills before them. This is
particularly salient when bills may be of interest to the consumer and
expand the oversight of the Public Service Commission. This report will
be both accessible to the public and received by the Public Service
Commission, who will be able to review such uses of funds.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2024: S9566 Referred to Energy and Telecommunications.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None to the state.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.