A07589 Summary:

BILL NOA07589
 
SAME ASSAME AS S01623
 
SPONSORCunningham
 
COSPNSR
 
MLTSPNSR
 
Add 77-a, Pub Serv L
 
Requires utility companies to reimburse consumers for spoilage of food and medication due to the lack of refrigeration in the event of a power outage lasting seventy-two hours or more.
Go to top    

A07589 Actions:

BILL NOA07589
 
05/25/2023referred to energy
01/03/2024referred to energy
Go to top

A07589 Committee Votes:

Go to top

A07589 Floor Votes:

There are no votes for this bill in this legislative session.
Go to top

A07589 Text:



 
                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                          7589
 
                               2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                   IN ASSEMBLY
 
                                      May 25, 2023
                                       ___________
 
        Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  CUNNINGHAM  -- read once and referred to the
          Committee on Energy
 
        AN ACT to amend the public service law, in relation to requiring utility
          companies to reimburse consumers in the event  of  a  prolonged  power
          outage
 
          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  77-a to read as follows:
     3    §  77-a.  Utility reimbursement requirements.   1. In the event that a
     4  residential utility customer or small business  customer  experiences  a
     5  widespread  prolonged  outage  lasting  at least seventy-two consecutive
     6  hours or more without having been resolved by the utility  company,  the
     7  utility company shall:
     8    (a) Provide reimbursement of any food spoiled due to lack of refriger-
     9  ation.   Residential utility customers shall provide the utility company
    10  an itemized list of all food spoiled or proof of loss  of  food  spoiled
    11  within  fourteen days of the outage. The utility company shall reimburse
    12  the customer within thirty days of the receipt of the itemized  list  or
    13  proof  of loss. The amount of the reimbursement shall not exceed a total
    14  of two hundred thirty-five dollars for customers who provide an itemized
    15  list. The amount of the reimbursement for customers who provide proof of
    16  loss shall not exceed five hundred forty dollars.
    17    (b) Provide reimbursement of prescription medication  spoiled  due  to
    18  lack  of  refrigeration. Residential utility customers shall provide the
    19  utility company with an itemized list and proof of loss of  prescription
    20  medication  due  to  lack  of  refrigeration within fourteen days of the
    21  outage.  The utility company shall reimburse the customer within  thirty
    22  days  of  the  receipt  of  the  itemized  list  and  proof  of  loss of
    23  prescription medication.  The amount of the reimbursement shall total no
    24  more than the actual loss of perishable prescription medicine.
 
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD03597-01-3

        A. 7589                             2
 
     1    (c) Provide reimbursement to small business  customers  for  any  food
     2  spoiled  due  to  lack  of refrigeration. Small business customers shall
     3  provide the utility company with an itemized list for all  food  spoiled
     4  and proof of loss within fourteen days of the outage. The utility compa-
     5  ny shall reimburse the small business customer within thirty days of the
     6  receipt  of  the  itemized  list  and  proof  of loss. The amount of the
     7  reimbursement shall total  no  more  than  ten  thousand  seven  hundred
     8  dollars.
     9    2.  The department shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to
    10  implement the provisions of this section.  Such  rules  and  regulations
    11  shall  define  the  terms "widespread prolonged outage", "small business
    12  customer" and "proof of loss".
    13    § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
    14  it shall have become a law.
Go to top