BILL NUMBER: S8062
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. Moni-
tor 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 electric and
gas utility customers when their usage has exceeded a threshold set by
the customer. The program shall notify the customer by mail or electron-
ically on the 10th and 20th day of the month. Provides for the defi-
nition of a smart meter.
Section 2. Effective Date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Utility rates have rise- 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:
None.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT:
None to the State.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become law.

Statutes affected:
S8062: 44 public service law