BILL NUMBER: S8128
SPONSOR: COMRIE
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public service law, in relation to enacting the
"ratepayer transparency act"
 
PURPOSE OF THE BILL:
This bill would require that energy utility bills include, at a minimum,
three separate charges related to 1) supply costs 2) delivery costs and
3) charges approved by the Public Service Commission (PSC) that have a
statewide impact and further a policy of the state to increase transpar-
ency for ratepayers on what goes into their utility bill.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
§ 1: Subdivision 12-a of Section 65 of the Public Service Law is amended
to require that gas, electric, and combination gas and electric utility
bills include, at a minimum, three separate charges related to 1) supply
costs 2) delivery costs and 3) charges approved by the Public Service
Commission (PSC) that have a statewide impact and further a policy of
the state.
§ 2: Effective date
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Utility bills currently include two main categories, supply and delivery
charges. While the supply charges are wholly determined by the market
cost of the generated electricity used, delivery charges, which are
subject to rate cases, encompass a host of charges including the costs
of infrastructure, energy affordability programs, and other ratepayer
funded programs required by the Public Service Commission (PSC) to serve
the public interest.
This bill would require that gas, electric, and combination gas and
electric utility bills include, at a minimum, three separate charges
related to 1) supply costs 2) delivery costs and 3) charges approved by
the Public Service Commission (PSC) that have a statewide impact and
further a policy of the state. This bill will increase transparency for
ratepayers and help them further understand what impacts their utility
bill.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on January 1, 2027

Statutes affected:
S8128: 66 public service law, 66(12-a) public service law