Bill > A04078

This bill establishes new requirements and penalties for combination utility companies (defined as utilities providing electric, gas, or steam service in cities with populations over one million) during service outages. The bill empowers the public service commission to set performance standards for these utilities during power outages and subsequent restoration, with the ability to impose financial penalties for non-compliance. Specifically, the commission can levy fines up to $100 per violation or up to $1,000 per violation for a pattern of violations, which will be judged on a per-customer account basis. The bill also requires the commission to establish a system of customer credits or rebates for service outages and missed installation appointments. Additionally, the commission is authorized to investigate utility company performance during emergencies and can potentially deny cost recovery for service restoration if the utility fails to reasonably implement its emergency response plan. Importantly, any penalties or litigation costs assessed against the utility cannot be passed on to customers through increased billing rates. The goal of the bill is to improve utility service reliability and protect consumers during service disruptions.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A4078