BILL NUMBER: S8062A
SPONSOR: WEBB
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public service law, in relation to establishing a
usage monitor 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. Establishes the 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 electronically 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. 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 fami-
lies and those on fixed incomes are left struggling to absorb unpredict-
able monthly costs. This bill creates a commonsense requirement on util-
ities 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 immediately 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 DA 1E:
This act shall take effect one year after it becomes law.

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