BILL NUMBER: S8062B
SPONSOR: WEBB
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public service law and the public authorities law,
in relation to requiring certain utility corporations and the Long
Island power authority to establish a meter usage monitoring program
 
PURPOSE::
Requires electric and gas utility corporations to create a usage monitor
program that notifies smart meter customers if their monthly usage
exceeds a set amount determined by the customer, and provides notice of
an estimated monthly bill cost.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS::
Section 1 of the bill amends the Public Service Law to establish a Usage
Monitor Program to notify residential electric and gas utility customers
when their usage has exceeded a threshold set by the customer. Usage
information will be viewable to the customer through their online
account associated with the utility's website, which will also have
functionality to set a monthly usage threshold for both electricity
and/or gas service. The program shall notify customers by mail or elec-
tronically when half of their set energy usage threshold is met and
again when their usage threshold is exceeded. The notification will also
include an estimate of their monthly bill.
Section 2 of the bill amends the Public Authorities Law to establish a
usage monitor program for Long Island Power Authority customers.
Section 3 of the bill sets the effective date
 
JUSTIFICATION:: Utility rates have risen dramatically in recent
years, often leaving families blindsided at the end of the month and
with little warning or recourse. While utilities continue to post record
profits, working families and those on fixed incomes are left struggling
to absorb unpredictable monthly costs. This bill creates a commonsense
requirement on utilities to utilize smart meter technology to provide
greater customer oversight of their monthly usage. Ratepayers will be
empowered to set monetary and usage thresholds that when exceeded, would
result in an alert that includes a real-time bill estimation so they may
more easily monitor their bill over the course of the month and imme-
diately address surprise spikes.
This bill will help consumers monitor their usage, manage their budgets,
and prevent the "sticker shock" of an unexpectedly high bill.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY::
2025: S.8062 - Passed Senate
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS::
To be determined
 
LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS::
To be determined
 
EFFECTIVE DATE::
This act shall take effect one year after it becomes law. Effective
immediately, the addition, amendment, and/or repeal of any rule or regu-
lation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective
date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective
date.

Statutes affected:
S8062: 44 public service law
S8062A: 44 public service law