Bill > A02614

This bill strengthens utility storm response and compliance by expanding and revising the penalties and oversight for utility companies during emergency events. The legislation modifies existing public service law to introduce a comprehensive, multi-factor approach to assessing penalties when utilities fail to meet service and safety standards. Specifically, the bill requires utilities to develop detailed emergency response plans and gives the Public Service Commission broader authority to evaluate violations based on factors such as the scope of damages, whether violations were knowing or willful, impact on service reliability, economic losses to ratepayers, infrastructure maintenance, storm preparation, and other mitigating circumstances. The bill applies these new penalty and planning requirements not just to combination gas and electric corporations, but also extends them to electric, gas, cable, telephone, steam, and water-works corporations. The penalties can now be more nuanced, considering the specific context of each violation, rather than applying a fixed monetary penalty. Additionally, the bill mandates annual emergency response plan submissions, requires communication plans during emergencies, and allows for investigations into utility performance during emergency events. The goal is to improve utility preparedness, accountability, and service restoration during storms and other critical events.

Government Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A2614