S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
2751
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
January 25, 2021
___________
Introduced by Sen. COMRIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Consumer Protection
AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to changes in
energy service pricing
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Subdivisions 6 and 7 of section 349-d of the general busi-
ness law, as added by chapter 416 of the laws of 2010, are amended to
read as follows:
6. No material change shall be made in the terms or duration of any
contract for the provision of energy services by an ESCO without the
express consent of the customer. A CHANGE IN PRICE OR A CHANGE TO OR
FROM FIXED OR VARIABLE PRICING SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE MATERIAL. This
shall not restrict an ESCO from renewing a contract by clearly informing
the customer in writing, not less than thirty days nor more than sixty
days prior to the renewal date, of the renewal terms and of his or her
option not to accept the renewal offer; provided, however, that no fee
pursuant to subdivision five of this section shall be charged to a
customer WHOSE EXPRESS CONSENT HAS NOT BEEN OBTAINED TO ANY CHANGE IN
MATERIAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS, OR who objects to such renewal not later
than three business days after receiving the first billing statement
from the ESCO under the terms of the contract as renewed. The public
service commission and the Long Island power authority may adopt addi-
tional guidelines, practices, rules or regulations governing the renewal
process.
7. In every contract for energy services and in all marketing materi-
als provided to prospective purchasers of such contracts, all variable
charges shall be clearly and conspicuously identified. IN ANY NOTICE
REGARDING CONTRACT RENEWABILITY, THE PROVIDER SHALL DISCLOSE THE FOLLOW-
ING INFORMATION AS IT EXISTS AT THE TIME OF SUCH NOTICE: (I) THE PRICE
CHARGED FOR ENERGY SERVICES; (II) THE PRICE IT PROPOSES TO CHARGE UPON
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05249-01-1
S. 2751 2
RENEWAL; (III) THE PRICE THAT IS CHARGED BY THE CUSTOMER'S DISTRIBUTION
UTILITY; AND (IV) INFORMATION NOTIFYING THE CUSTOMER HOW THEY MAY
COMPARE PAST BILLS WITH WHAT THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN CHARGED HAD THEY
RECEIVED ENERGY SERVICES FROM THEIR RESPECTIVE DISTRIBUTION UTILITY,
INCLUDING, THE INTERNET ADDRESS OF ANY BILL CALCULATOR OFFERED BY SUCH
CUSTOMER'S DISTRIBUTION UTILITY'S WEBSITE.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.