S 7165: Authorizes the public service commission to consider non-economic loss suffered by consumers, including pain and suffering or mental anguish, when determining penalties against a public utility company, corporation or person or a combination gas and electric corporation.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 7165 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN SENATE April 3, 2025 ___________ Introduced by Sen. HINCHEY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Energy and Telecommuni- cations AN ACT to amend the public service law, in relation to authorizing consideration of non-economic loss suffered by consumers when deter- mining penalties The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Section 25 of the public service law is amended by adding a 2 new subdivision 8 to read as follows: 3 8. In determining penalties pursuant to this section, including any 4 negotiated settlements between the commission and a public utility 5 company, corporation or person and the officers, agents and employees 6 thereof, the commission may consider non-economic loss suffered by 7 consumers including, but not limited to, pain and suffering or mental 8 anguish. 9 § 2. Section 25-a of the public service law is amended by adding a new 10 subdivision 12 to read as follows: 11 12. In determining penalties pursuant to this section, including any 12 negotiated settlements between the commission and a combination gas and 13 electric corporation or the officers thereof, the commission may consid- 14 er non-economic loss suffered by consumers, including but not limited 15 to, pain and suffering or mental anguish. 16 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD11518-01-5