Requires the public service commission to retain an independent auditor to conduct audits of private water utility companies prior to and after rate changes are approved by the public service commission.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
5165
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 11, 2021
___________
Introduced by M. of A. MONTESANO, LAVINE, RA, ABINANTI, McDONOUGH --
Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. BRABENEC -- read once and referred to
the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
AN ACT to amend the public service law, in relation to requiring the
public service commission retain an independent auditor to conduct
audits of private water utility companies prior to and after rate
changes are approved 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. Subdivision 10 of section 89-c of the public service law is
2 amended by adding a new paragraph (b-1) to read as follows:
3 (b-1) Prior to the approval by the commission of a change by a private
4 water utility company in any rate or charge, or in any form of contract
5 or agreement or any rule or regulation relating to any rate, charge or
6 service, or in any general privilege or facility, the commissioner shall
7 retain a third-party auditor to conduct an audit of such private water
8 utility company and provide his or her findings to the commission in
9 writing. The third-party auditor shall not be affiliated with the
10 commission or with any member of the public service commission. In the
11 event of approval by the commission of any such change by a private
12 water utility company in rate or charge, or in any form of contract or
13 agreement or any rule or regulation relating to any rate, charge or
14 service, or in any general privilege or facility, the independent audi-
15 tor shall conduct a second audit of the private water utility company
16 one year after the change takes effect. The commission shall publish the
17 results of all such audits on its website.
18 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07246-01-1
