Bill > S01327

This bill establishes minimum standards for payment plans offered by utility companies to eligible customers, requiring the Public Service Commission (PSC) to set these standards. These standards will determine the reasonableness of payment agreements, including any required down payments, by considering factors such as a household's current income, ability to pay, past payment history, the size of the outstanding bill, and any extreme hardships. The bill also mandates that payment plans can allow for installments as low as ten dollars per month with no down payment if financial need is demonstrated, and that customers have at least twenty-one days from the bill's mailing date to pay in full unless otherwise agreed. Furthermore, it prevents the termination of a residential customer's utility service while they are enrolled in and complying with a payment plan, except in specific circumstances like health and safety emergencies or violations of utility rules, and allows customers to spread the impact of rate changes over the remainder of their payment plan period. Eligibility for these payment plans is determined by providing documentation of participation in various government assistance programs, including temporary assistance for needy families (TANF), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), SNAP, HEAP, and Medicaid, among others.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Transportation and Infrastructure

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S1327