NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A8868
SPONSOR: Heastie TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public service law, in relation to prohibiting
service charges by gas companies for repair, inspection, maintenance or
remedies of damage
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this bill is to clarify that gas companies are responsi-
ble for the costs incurred to repair any damage done to a customer's
property in connection with inspecting or replacing a customer's meter
or other gas-related equipment.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one amends section 65(6) of the Public Service Law to indicate
explicitly that utilities cannot charge for the repairs to a customer's
property resulting from damage incurred when the utility conducted an
installation, repair or inspection of a customer's meter or other equip-
ment.
Section two is the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Although gas utilities are prohibited from charging a customer for
certain actions related to the maintenance and replacement of gas
meters, in some circumstances, customers may be left to pay costs for
personal property damaged by the utility's activities. This bill would
protect customers from having to pay such repair costs by requiring the
utility to be responsible for any resulting repairs.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
This is a new bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None to the State.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
