Directs the New York state energy research and development authority to study, evaluate and make recommendations on the best technologies available to enable blind and visually impaired customers of public utilities to determine the actual reading of their water, electric and/or gas meters; requires the public service commission to promulgate and implement rules and regulations which effectuate the recommendations of the New York state energy research and development authority.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
1285
2009-2010 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 28, 2009
___________
Introduced by Sen. O. JOHNSON -- read twice and ordered printed, and
when printed to be committed to the Committee on Energy and Telecommu-
nications
AN ACT to direct the New York state energy research and development
authority to study and report upon the best technology to enable blind
and visually impaired utility customers to read their meters; and to
amend the public service law, in relation to directing the public
service commission to promulgate rules and regulations requiring the
implementation of such technologies by utilities
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The New York state energy research and development authori-
2 ty is hereby authorized and directed to study and evaluate the best
3 existing technologies and equipment which could be implemented by utili-
4 ty corporations and municipalities to enable and facilitate blind and
5 visually impaired customers to determine the actual reading of such
6 customers' water meters, electric meters and/or gas meters.
7 § 2. Within 180 days of the effective date of this act, the New York
8 state energy research and development authority shall issue and make
9 public a report on the findings of its study and evaluation conducted
10 pursuant to section one of this act. Such report shall include the
11 recommendations of such authority on the feasible, best technologies and
12 equipment available for use by utilities, and blind and visually
13 impaired utility customers to assist such customers in determining the
14 actual readings of their utility meters. In addition, such report and
15 recommendations shall be submitted to the governor, public service
16 commission and legislature.
17 § 3. The public service law is amended by adding a new section 39-a to
18 read as follows:
19 § 39-a. Metering; blind and visually impaired utility customers. With-
20 in two hundred ten days of the commission's receipt of the report issued
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02946-01-9
S. 1285 2
1 by the New York state energy research and development authority pursuant
2 to section two of the chapter of the laws of two thousand nine which
3 added this section, the commission shall promulgate and implement rules
4 and regulations which implement the recommendations of such report. Such
5 rules and regulations may be amended from time to time to reflect
6 advancements in technology and equipment.
7 § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
