S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
138
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
(PREFILED)
January 6, 2021
___________
Introduced by Sens. MAYER, COMRIE, FELDER, HARCKHAM, HOYLMAN, KAPLAN,
KRUEGER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be
committed to the Committee on Energy and Telecommunications
AN ACT to amend the public service law, in relation to expanding the
types of entities required to prepare and submit an emergency response
plan
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 94 of the public service law is amended by adding a
new subdivision 5 to read as follows:
5. (A) EACH CORPORATION SUBJECT TO THIS ARTICLE SHALL ANNUALLY, ON OR
BEFORE DECEMBER FIFTEENTH, SUBMIT TO THE COMMISSION AN EMERGENCY
RESPONSE PLAN FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL. THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN
SHALL BE DESIGNED FOR THE REASONABLY PROMPT RESTORATION OF SERVICE IN
THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY EVENT, DEFINED FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SUBDIVISION
AS AN EVENT WHERE WIDESPREAD OUTAGES HAVE OCCURRED IN THE SERVICE TERRI-
TORY OF THE COMPANY DUE TO STORMS OR OTHER CAUSES BEYOND THE CONTROL OF
THE COMPANY. THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NEED NOT BE
LIMITED TO, THE FOLLOWING: (I) THE IDENTIFICATION OF MANAGEMENT STAFF
RESPONSIBLE FOR COMPANY OPERATIONS DURING AN EMERGENCY; (II) A COMMUNI-
CATIONS SYSTEM WITH CUSTOMERS DURING AN EMERGENCY THAT EXTENDS BEYOND
NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS AND BUSINESS CONDITIONS; (III) DESIGNATION OF
COMPANY STAFF TO COMMUNICATE WITH LOCAL OFFICIALS AND APPROPRIATE REGU-
LATORY AGENCIES; (IV) PROVISIONS REGARDING HOW THE COMPANY WILL ASSURE
THE SAFETY OF ITS EMPLOYEES AND CONTRACTORS; (V) PROCEDURES FOR DEPLOY-
ING PERSONNEL CREWS TO WORK ASSIGNMENT AREAS; (VI) IDENTIFICATION OF
ADDITIONAL SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT NEEDED DURING AN EMERGENCY; (VII) THE
MEANS OF OBTAINING ADDITIONAL SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT; (VIII) PROCEDURES
TO PRACTICE THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN; AND (IX) SUCH OTHER ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AS THE COMMISSION MAY REQUIRE. EACH SUCH CORPORATION SHALL,
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02685-01-1
S. 138 2
ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, UNDERTAKE DRILLS IMPLEMENTING PROCEDURES TO PRACTICE
ITS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLAN. THE COMMISSION MAY ADOPT ADDITIONAL
REQUIREMENTS CONSISTENT WITH ENSURING THE REASONABLY PROMPT RESTORATION
OF SERVICE IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY EVENT.
(B) AFTER REVIEW OF A CORPORATION'S EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN, THE
COMMISSION MAY REQUIRE SUCH CORPORATION TO AMEND THE PLAN. THE COMMIS-
SION MAY ALSO OPEN AN INVESTIGATION OF THE CORPORATION'S PLAN TO DETER-
MINE ITS SUFFICIENCY TO RESPOND ADEQUATELY TO AN EMERGENCY EVENT. IF,
AFTER HEARINGS, THE COMMISSION FINDS A MATERIAL DEFICIENCY IN THE PLAN,
IT MAY ORDER THE COMPANY TO MAKE SUCH MODIFICATIONS THAT IT DEEMS
REASONABLY NECESSARY TO REMEDY THE DEFICIENCY.
(C) THE COMMISSION IS AUTHORIZED TO OPEN AN INVESTIGATION TO REVIEW
THE PERFORMANCE OF ANY CORPORATION IN RESTORING SERVICE OR OTHERWISE
MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN DURING AN EMER-
GENCY EVENT. IF, AFTER EVIDENTIARY HEARINGS OR OTHER INVESTIGATORY
PROCEEDINGS, THE COMMISSION FINDS THAT THE CORPORATION FAILED TO REASON-
ABLY IMPLEMENT ITS EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN OR THE LENGTH OF SUCH CORPO-
RATION'S OUTAGES WERE MATERIALLY LONGER THAN THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN,
BECAUSE OF SUCH CORPORATION'S FAILURE TO REASONABLY IMPLEMENT ITS EMER-
GENCY RESPONSE PLAN, THE COMMISSION MAY DENY THE RECOVERY OF ANY PART OF
THE SERVICE RESTORATION COSTS CAUSED BY SUCH FAILURE, COMMENSURATE WITH
THE DEGREE AND IMPACT OF THE SERVICE OUTAGE; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT
NOTHING HEREIN LIMITS THE COMMISSION'S AUTHORITY TO OTHERWISE COMMENCE A
PROCEEDING PURSUANT TO SECTIONS TWENTY-FOUR AND TWENTY-FIVE OF THIS
CHAPTER.
(D) THE COMMISSION SHALL CERTIFY TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURI-
TY AND EMERGENCY SERVICES THAT EACH SUCH CORPORATION'S EMERGENCY
RESPONSE PLAN IS SUFFICIENT TO ENSURE TO THE GREATEST EXTENT FEASIBLE
THE TIMELY AND SAFE RESTORATION OF ENERGY SERVICES AFTER AN EMERGENCY IN
COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS CHAPTER.
(E) EACH CORPORATION SUBJECT TO THIS ARTICLE SHALL FILE WITH THE COUN-
TY EXECUTIVE OR THE CHIEF ELECTED OFFICIAL OF A COUNTY FOR EACH COUNTY
WITHIN ITS SERVICE TERRITORY THE MOST RECENT APPROVED COPY OF THE EMER-
GENCY RESPONSE PLAN REQUIRED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION. FOR THE PURPOSES
OF A CORPORATION OPERATING WITHIN THE CITY OF NEW YORK, SUCH CORPORATION
SHALL FILE THE MOST RECENT APPROVED EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN WITH THE
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICE OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK.
(F) THE COMMISSION SHALL PROVIDE ACCESS TO SUCH EMERGENCY RESPONSE
PLAN PURSUANT TO ARTICLE SIX OF THE PUBLIC OFFICERS LAW.
§ 2. Section 216 of the public service law is amended by adding a new
subdivision 4-a to read as follows:
4-A. (A) EACH CORPORATION SUBJECT TO THIS ARTICLE SHALL ANNUALLY, ON
OR BEFORE DECEMBER FIFTEENTH, SUBMIT TO THE COMMISSION AN EMERGENCY
RESPONSE PLAN FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL. THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN SHALL
BE DESIGNED FOR THE REASONABLY PROMPT RESTORATION OF SERVICE IN THE CASE
OF AN EMERGENCY EVENT, DEFINED FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SUBDIVISION AS AN
EVENT WHERE WIDESPREAD OUTAGES HAVE OCCURRED IN THE SERVICE TERRITORY OF
THE COMPANY DUE TO STORMS OR OTHER CAUSES BEYOND THE CONTROL OF THE
COMPANY. THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NEED NOT BE
LIMITED TO, THE FOLLOWING: (I) THE IDENTIFICATION OF MANAGEMENT STAFF
RESPONSIBLE FOR COMPANY OPERATIONS DURING AN EMERGENCY; (II) A COMMUNI-
CATIONS SYSTEM WITH CUSTOMERS DURING AN EMERGENCY THAT EXTENDS BEYOND
NORMAL BUSINESS HOURS AND BUSINESS CONDITIONS; (III) DESIGNATION OF
COMPANY STAFF TO COMMUNICATE WITH LOCAL OFFICIALS AND APPROPRIATE REGU-
LATORY AGENCIES; (IV) PROVISIONS REGARDING HOW THE COMPANY WILL ASSURE
THE SAFETY OF ITS EMPLOYEES AND CONTRACTORS; (V) PROCEDURES FOR DEPLOY-
S. 138 3
ING PERSONNEL CREWS TO WORK ASSIGNMENT AREAS; (VI) IDENTIFICATION OF
ADDITIONAL SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT NEEDED DURING AN EMERGENCY; (VII) THE
MEANS OF OBTAINING ADDITIONAL SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT; (VIII) PROCEDURES
TO PRACTICE THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN; AND (IX) SUCH OTHER ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION AS THE COMMISSION MAY REQUIRE. EACH SUCH CORPORATION SHALL,
ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, UNDERTAKE DRILLS IMPLEMENTING PROCEDURES TO PRACTICE
ITS EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLAN. THE COMMISSION MAY ADOPT ADDITIONAL
REQUIREMENTS CONSISTENT WITH ENSURING THE REASONABLY PROMPT RESTORATION
OF SERVICE IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY EVENT.
(B) AFTER REVIEW OF A CORPORATION'S EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN, THE
COMMISSION MAY REQUIRE SUCH CORPORATION TO AMEND THE PLAN. THE COMMIS-
SION MAY ALSO OPEN AN INVESTIGATION OF THE CORPORATION'S PLAN TO DETER-
MINE ITS SUFFICIENCY TO RESPOND ADEQUATELY TO AN EMERGENCY EVENT. IF,
AFTER HEARINGS, THE COMMISSION FINDS A MATERIAL DEFICIENCY IN THE PLAN,
IT MAY ORDER THE COMPANY TO MAKE SUCH MODIFICATIONS THAT IT DEEMS
REASONABLY NECESSARY TO REMEDY THE DEFICIENCY.
(C) THE COMMISSION IS AUTHORIZED TO OPEN AN INVESTIGATION TO REVIEW
THE PERFORMANCE OF ANY CORPORATION IN RESTORING SERVICE OR OTHERWISE
MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN DURING AN EMER-
GENCY EVENT. IF, AFTER EVIDENTIARY HEARINGS OR OTHER INVESTIGATORY
PROCEEDINGS, THE COMMISSION FINDS THAT THE CORPORATION FAILED TO REASON-
ABLY IMPLEMENT ITS EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN OR THE LENGTH OF SUCH CORPO-
RATION'S OUTAGES WERE MATERIALLY LONGER THAN THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN,
BECAUSE OF SUCH CORPORATION'S FAILURE TO REASONABLY IMPLEMENT ITS EMER-
GENCY RESPONSE PLAN, THE COMMISSION MAY DENY THE RECOVERY OF ANY PART OF
THE SERVICE RESTORATION COSTS CAUSED BY SUCH FAILURE, COMMENSURATE WITH
THE DEGREE AND IMPACT OF THE SERVICE OUTAGE; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT
NOTHING HEREIN LIMITS THE COMMISSION'S AUTHORITY TO OTHERWISE COMMENCE A
PROCEEDING PURSUANT TO SECTIONS TWENTY-FOUR AND TWENTY-FIVE OF THIS
CHAPTER.
(D) THE COMMISSION SHALL CERTIFY TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURI-
TY AND EMERGENCY SERVICES THAT EACH SUCH CORPORATION'S EMERGENCY
RESPONSE PLAN IS SUFFICIENT TO ENSURE TO THE GREATEST EXTENT FEASIBLE
THE TIMELY AND SAFE RESTORATION OF ENERGY SERVICES AFTER AN EMERGENCY IN
COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS CHAPTER.
(E) EACH CORPORATION SUBJECT TO THIS ARTICLE SHALL FILE WITH THE COUN-
TY EXECUTIVE OR THE CHIEF ELECTED OFFICIAL OF A COUNTY FOR EACH COUNTY
WITHIN ITS SERVICE TERRITORY THE MOST RECENT APPROVED COPY OF THE EMER-
GENCY RESPONSE PLAN REQUIRED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION. FOR THE PURPOSES
OF A CORPORATION OPERATING WITHIN THE CITY OF NEW YORK, SUCH CORPORATION
SHALL FILE THE MOST RECENT APPROVED EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN WITH THE
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICE OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK.
(F) THE COMMISSION SHALL PROVIDE ACCESS TO SUCH EMERGENCY RESPONSE
PLAN PURSUANT TO ARTICLE SIX OF THE PUBLIC OFFICERS LAW.
§ 3. Severability. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, section or part
of this act shall be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to
be invalid and after exhaustion of all further judicial review, the
judgment shall not affect, impair or invalidate the remainder thereof,
but shall be confined in its operation to the clause, sentence, para-
graph, section or part of this act directly involved in the controversy
in which the judgment shall have been rendered.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately.