Bill > S01330

This bill requires utility companies headquartered in New York to establish a statewide automatic payment plan program for low-income customers within 180 days of the law's enactment. The program mandates that utility companies (defined as providers of electric, gas, or steam service) automatically offer affordable payment plans to qualifying individuals who can demonstrate eligibility through participation in various assistance programs such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and over a dozen other federal and state assistance programs. When designing these payment plans, utility companies must consider the customer's financial circumstances, including the amount due, ability to pay, payment history, potential energy assistance benefits, and any hardships that might result from service disconnection. The bill also requires utility companies to prominently advertise these payment plans on their websites, create an electronic mechanism for submitting and reviewing eligibility documentation, and provide customers with at least 21 days to pay their bill in full, with restrictions on automatic withdrawals before the due date. The law will take effect 30 days after it is signed.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Transportation and Infrastructure

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S1330