BILL NUMBER:  S1437

 TITLE OF BILL :

An act to amend the public service law, in relation to charges or fees
on volunteer ambulance corps and volunteer fire companies in certain
cases

 PURPOSE :

Requires public utility companies to charge volunteer ambulance corps
and volunteer fire departments the same rates and charges applicable
to residential customers.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :

Section 1 amends the Public Service Law by adding a new section 116-a
allowing certain volunteer organizations to be treated as individual
customers and provides that no public utility company may charge such
a volunteer organization a fee not otherwise chargeable to an
individual residential customer.

Section 2 amends section 66 of the Public Service Law by adding a new
subdivision 29 provides that revenue forgone by an electric
corporation as a result of charging volunteer organizations domestic
consumer raters may not be recovered from customers of such
              

corporation.

 EXISTING LAW :

Presently, public utilities have the option of charging volunteer
ambulance corps and volunteer fire companies commercial utility rates,
and often do so.

 JUSTIFICATION :

Volunteer ambulance corps and fire companies provide essential
services to communities. As a matter of public policy these volunteer
organizations should enjoy the lowest fees, rates, and charges
available. Instead, current law provides for public utilities'
discretion in choosing whether to charge volunteer organizations
residential or commercial rates. However, public utility companies are
statutorily required to charge other organizations, including veteran
organizations, religious bodies, and community residences at the
residential rate.  Volunteer emergency services must also receive the
reduced residential rates.

The increase costs of utility services places an unnecessary burden on
these public servants. In rural counties throughout the state, most
emergency services are provided by volunteers. These organization
simply cannot afford to pay high utility rates. This legislation
requires public utility companies to charge volunteer fire companies
and volunteer ambulance corps the same rates, charges, and fees
afforded to residential customers. Any revenue lost from the reduced
rate may not be recovered by public utilities by diverting costs to
other customers.

This legislation provides the necessary rate reduction in utility
costs that help these emergency organizations continue to serve their
communities.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

2015-2016: S.2534 Referred to Energy
2013-2014: S.1947 Referred to Energy
2011-2012: S.5520 Referred to Energy/ A.3561 Referred to Corporation
2010: S.3470 Referred to Energy/ A.4721 Referred to Corporation
2008:  S.5059-A Passed Senate / A.4636-B Referred to Corporation
2006:  S.3032 Referred to Energy/ A.3422 Referred to Corporation
2004: A.976 Referred to Corporation
2001-2002: S.798 Referred to Energy/ A.2969 Referred to Corporation
1999-2000: S.95 Referred to Energy /A. 4174 Passed Assembly
1997-1998: S.5114-A Referred to Energy/A.5601-A Referred to Codes
1995-1996: S.838 Referred to Energy/A.1335 Referred to Energy

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

None to the state.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after is shall have
become a law.