A 1126: Enacts the "utility ratepayer protection act"; requires legislative approval of increases in utility charges.
The Utility Ratepayer Protection Act aims to increase transparency and control over utility rate increases. The proposed law requires utilities to submit a written report to the legislature at least 180 days prior to any rate increase, detailing justification and financial information. The report will also include justification for the proposed increase, information on the current financial condition of the utility, and any additional data or information deemed necessary by the legislature. The legislature can then review and approve or reject the proposed increase, ensuring that it is necessary to cover the utility's expenses, including infrastructure maintenance and operation. If the legislature finds the proposed increase unnecessary, it will not take effect until approved by a majority vote of both houses. The law will take effect immediately.
| Jan. 07, 2026 | referred to energy |
| Jan. 09, 2025 | referred to energy |
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 1126 2025-2026 Regular Sessions IN ASSEMBLY January 9, 2025 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. SANTABARBARA -- read once and referred to the Committee on Energy AN ACT to amend the public service law, in relation to requiring legis- lative approval of increases in utility charges The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "utility 2 ratepayer protection act". 3 § 2. Subdivision 12 of section 66 of the public service law is 4 amended by adding a new paragraph (b-1) to read as follows: 5 (b-1) No change shall be made in any rate or charge, which shall have 6 been filed by a utility in compliance with an order of the commission, 7 without the consent of both houses of the legislature by a majority vote 8 in each house. The utility shall submit a written report to the legisla- 9 ture at least one hundred eighty days prior to the date when any 10 proposed increase in fees, rentals and charges for the provision of 11 services by the utility is scheduled to take effect. Such report shall 12 include justification for the proposed increase, and information setting 13 forth the current financial condition of the utility. The legislature 14 may require any additional data or information that it deems necessary. 15 If the legislature, or the appropriate committees thereof, finds that 16 the proposed increases are not necessary to produce sufficient revenue 17 to meet the expense of the provision of services, including the mainte- 18 nance and operation of infrastructure, then no proposed increase shall 19 take effect until approved by a majority vote of each house of the 20 legislature. 21 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD03433-01-5