Bill > A07366

This bill establishes the "Small Water Utility Transparency Act", which requires the Public Service Commission (PSC) and the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to conduct comprehensive audits of small private water companies with gross annual revenues below $250,000. These audits, to be performed on a three-to-five-year cycle, will examine critical aspects such as capital investment, compliance with water safety regulations, financial capacity, management effectiveness, water quality, and system affordability. The bill mandates that these small water companies under investigation must file regular public updates about their compliance status, with the PSC authorized to establish and collect fines for non-compliance. Furthermore, the PSC and DEC are required to coordinate their audit efforts, sharing information and jointly issuing merged audit reports. The goal of this legislation is to increase transparency, ensure regulatory compliance, and improve the oversight of smaller private water utilities to protect public health and ensure water system reliability.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A7366