Clarifies how certain non-billing information regarding the delivery of water is disclosed to residents of cooperatives, condominiums or multi-family dwellings; requires water-works corporations to notify customers of their ability to receive non-billing related information.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A2431
SPONSOR: Braunstein TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public service law, in relation to clarifying how
certain non-billing information regarding the delivery of water is
disclosed to residents of cooperatives, condominiums or multi-family
dwellings
PURPOSE:
This bill clarifies the process on how water companies make available
non-billing information to residents of cooperatives, condominiums or
multifamily dwellings.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of the bill amends subdivision 17 of section 89-c of the
public service law as it relates to requiring that residents of certain
cooperatives, condominiums, or multi-family dwellings must be able to
obtain non-billing information about their water service in the same
manner that customers of the water company are entitled to. This makes
several clarifying changes to ensure the water company identifies appli-
cable residents and provide written notice to such residents where they
have the option to receive the non-billing information.
Section 2 of the bill is the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Residents who live in certain condominiums, cooperatives, or multi-fami-
ly residences are not afforded the same access to critical information
on their water that other users are. These residents receive their water
through a master meter and are not considered customers by the water-
works corporations. As a result, they do not directly receive any
notifications regarding water quality or service interruptions.
In 2021, the legislature passed a law that empowers the Public Service
Commission to require water companies to provide non-billing related
information. Finding that there have been differing interpretations on
sharing this information, this bill seeks to clarify how water companies
make available non-billing information to residents of cooperatives,
condominiums or multi-family dwellings including identifying all resi-
dents and providing written notice directly to them.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2021-22: A.9661 - Passed Assembly
2023-24: A.4403/S.9052 - Passed Assembly
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None to the State.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
2431
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 16, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. BRAUNSTEIN -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
AN ACT to amend the public service law, in relation to clarifying how
certain non-billing information regarding the delivery of water is
disclosed to residents of cooperatives, condominiums or multi-family
dwellings
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Subdivision 17 of section 89-c of the public service law,
2 as added by chapter 191 of the laws of 2021, is amended to read as
3 follows:
4 17. The commission shall [have power to] require each water-works
5 corporation to establish a process for residents of any cooperative,
6 condominium or multi-family dwelling with five or more residential
7 units, which uses a master meter to distribute water to such residents,
8 to obtain non-billing related information in the same manner that
9 customers of such water-works corporation are entitled to receive such
10 information regarding the delivery of water including but not limited to
11 service updates, water quality notices and other information deemed
12 essential to water consumers. The commission shall require each water-
13 works corporation to identify all cooperatives, condominiums or multi-
14 family dwellings with five or more residential units which use a master
15 meter within their territory, and such water-works corporation shall,
16 initially and periodically thereafter, provide written notice to all
17 residents in the identified cooperatives, condominiums or multi-family
18 dwellings with five or more residential units which use a master meter
19 within their territory of the option to obtain non-billing related
20 information about their water service. Such written notice shall include
21 an option for such resident to provide contact information and a
22 preferred method of contact of the resident for purposes of disclosing
23 non-billing related information.
24 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06114-01-5
