Prohibits utility corporations and municipalities from increasing a bill previously rendered to a small non-residential customer after twelve months from the date service was provided; provides limited exceptions to such prohibition; requires the utility corporation or municipality to provide notice regarding the late billing.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
8710
IN SENATE
January 7, 2026
___________
Introduced by Sen. HINCHEY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Energy and Telecommuni-
cations
AN ACT to amend the public service law, in relation to prohibiting the
increase of certain utility charges after twelve months from the time
service was provided
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The opening paragraph of section 66-w of the public service
2 law is designated subdivision 1 and a new subdivision 2 is added to read
3 as follows:
4 2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a utility corporation
5 or municipality may not adjust upward a bill previously rendered to a
6 small non-residential customer after the expiration of twelve months
7 from the time the service to which the adjustment pertains was provided
8 unless: (a) failure to bill correctly was caused by the customer's
9 culpable conduct or was not due to the neglect of the utility corpo-
10 ration or municipality; or (b) there was a dispute between the utility
11 corporation or municipality and the customer concerning the bill during
12 the twelve-month period. A utility corporation or municipality issuing
13 an additional or increased bill charging for services rendered twelve or
14 more months prior to such date of issuance shall include with it a
15 notice giving the reason for the late billing.
16 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13890-02-5
