Directs utility corporations to petition the public service commission for approval of electric grid utilization metrics; directs the public service commission to determine which electric grid utilization metrics shall be approved and how such metrics shall be applied; directs the public service commission to submit an annual report to the legislature and governor.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
9608--A
IN SENATE
March 30, 2026
___________
Introduced by Sens. MAY, HARCKHAM, KAVANAGH -- read twice and ordered
printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Energy
and Telecommunications -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered
reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the public service law, in relation to directing utility
corporations to petition the public service commission for approval of
electric grid utilization metrics
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 4-c to read as follows:
3 § 4-c. Utility corporation utilization metrics. 1. (a) No later than
4 October fifteenth, two thousand twenty-six, each utility corporation
5 shall petition the commission for approval of electric grid utilization
6 metrics. Such petition shall include an overview of electric grid utili-
7 zation metrics, including industry standard metrics. Each utility corpo-
8 ration shall include in such petition an assessment of current electric
9 distribution and transmission system performance as compared with opti-
10 mal utilization of existing electric grid assets, including any informa-
11 tion necessary for the commission to evaluate the efficiency and
12 performance of electric distribution and transmission system infrastruc-
13 ture owned and operated by each such utility corporation.
14 (b) Any electric grid utilization metrics proposed by a utility corpo-
15 ration under paragraph (a) of this subdivision shall include: (i) the
16 ratio of distribution system peak load to total distribution electric
17 grid capacity; (ii) the ratio of current electric load delivered to
18 total potential deliverable electric load over the distribution system;
19 (iii) the percentage of kilowatt-hours of electricity lost during the
20 distribution process or by the distribution system; (iv) an analysis of
21 constrained circuits on the distribution system; and (v) an evaluation
22 of the performance of the distribution system at system peaks.
23 (c) (i) In evaluating petitions made under this subdivision, the
24 commission shall determine which electric grid utilization metrics shall
25 be approved, how such metrics may be reasonably applied at the feeder
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15374-02-6
S. 9608--A 2
1 and substation level, and how such metrics may be reported in future
2 integrated resource plan filings, and shall include, as deemed appropri-
3 ate by the commission, a requirement to submit seasonal assessments of
4 electric grid utilization and implementation of such electric grid
5 utilization metrics.
6 (ii) In approving any electric grid utilization metrics under this
7 paragraph, the commission shall include, as appropriate: (1) a timeline
8 for each utility corporation to increase electric grid utilization in
9 accordance with the approved metrics; and (2) a description of the ways
10 in which such metrics may inform the commission's consideration of
11 future utility requests for approval of cost recovery for capital
12 investments.
13 (iii) In subsequent integrated resource plan filings, each utility
14 shall include an assessment of current system performance relative to
15 each proposed metric and may propose new or modified electric grid
16 utilization metrics for commission approval.
17 2. (a) The commission shall produce an annual report to the legisla-
18 ture and the governor on each utility corporation's assessment of rele-
19 vant grid utilization metrics and performance against such metrics rela-
20 tive to the requirements of this section, including the timeline
21 established by the commission for each such utility corporation.
22 (b) In the report submitted under paragraph (a) of this subdivision,
23 the commission shall also analyze the potential for each utility corpo-
24 ration to increase electric grid utilization through the deployment of
25 non-wires alternatives, including: (i) virtual power plants; (ii) flexi-
26 ble transmission and transmission static synchronous compensators; (iii)
27 synchronous condensers; and (iv) power quality monitoring equipment
28 installed at the point of interconnection for all customers with a meas-
29 ured or contracted demand of twenty-five megawatts or greater.
30 (c) In conducting an analysis under paragraph (b) of this subdivision,
31 the commission may request any information necessary from each utility
32 corporation to properly evaluate such utility corporation's deployment
33 of non-wires alternatives or other methods to improve electric grid
34 utilization.
35 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
