Requires consideration of evidence relating to the economic impact of major increases of rates or charges upon consumers and the areas affected by such increases of rates or charges prior to approval of any such rates or charges; establishes minimum data to be considered by the public service commission relating to such economic impact.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
2400--A
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 16, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. EICHENSTEIN, BUTTENSCHON -- read once and
referred to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
-- recommitted to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and
Commissions in accordance with Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2 -- committee
discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
to said committee
AN ACT to amend the public service law, in relation to requiring
evidence and consideration of the economic impact of utility rates and
charges by the public service commission
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The public service law is amended by adding a new section
2 119-f to read as follows:
3 § 119-f. Economic impact assessment. 1. Prior to approving any major
4 increase in rates or charges proposed by a public utility company or
5 municipality, the commission shall consider the economic impact of any
6 such proposed increase in the rates or charges upon consumers in the
7 area served by the company or municipality proposing such increase. Such
8 consideration shall be in relation to any determination made by the
9 commission under subdivision one of section sixty-five, subdivision one
10 of section seventy-nine, subdivision one of section eighty-nine-b, and
11 subdivision one of section ninety-one of this chapter. For purposes of
12 this subdivision, "major increase" shall mean an increase in the rates
13 and charges which would increase the aggregate revenues of the applicant
14 more than the greater of three hundred thousand dollars or two and one-
15 half percent.
16 2. In assessing economic impact the commission shall, with respect to
17 each public utility company or municipality's service territory and
18 customers, consider, at a minimum:
19 a. unemployment data, income information and the number of persons
20 receiving social services assistance;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02234-02-6
A. 2400--A 2
1 b. the average monthly utility bill for each class of customers who
2 would be affected by an increased rate or charge and the estimated
3 increased utility bill for each such class of customers; and
4 c. the latest federal bureau of labor statistics' consumer price index
5 figures indicating the average cost of living and the average cost of
6 fuel and utilities for the nation and, if possible for the state or the
7 service territory affected by such increased rate or charge.
8 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to each
9 request for increased rates or charges submitted on or after the effec-
10 tive date of this act.
