Senate Bill S1630A

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   1630
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 13, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  COMRIE -- 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 customers with
   life-saving equipment during a service disruption

   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. 1. Definitions. For purposes of this section:
   "customer with life-saving equipment" shall have the same meaning as a
 person  living in a residence that uses a life support system as defined
 in subdivision 12 of section 65 of the public service law.
   2. a. The  public  service  commission  shall  commence  a  rulemaking
 proceeding  to  set  minimum requirements regarding customers with life-
 saving equipment. Such rulemaking  proceeding  shall  establish  a  plan
 that,  in the event of an electric service disruption, requires electric
 corporations to:
   i. provide backup generators capable of powering life-saving equipment
 to customers with life-saving equipment, including refueling or recharg-
 ing services; or
   ii. provide temporary lodging accommodations at a location capable  of
 powering  life-saving  equipment,  including  but not limited to compen-
 sation for hotel rooms or hospital admissions, based on the duration  of
 the electric service disruption to customers with life-saving equipment;
 and
   iii.  prioritize  electric service restoration to customers with life-
 saving equipment.
   b. Upon adoption by the commission, each  electric  corporation  shall
 incorporate  the  established  minimum  requirements  into its emergency
 response plan pursuant to subdivision 21 of section  66  of  the  public
 service law and shall inform its customers of such information via posts
 on its website, e-mail and bill inserts.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD00902-01-3
              

 S. 1630                             2
 
   § 2. The public service law is amended by adding a new section 65-c to
 read as follows:
   §  65-C.  CUSTOMERS  WITH LIFE-SAVING EQUIPMENT.   1. DEFINITIONS. FOR
 PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION:
   "CUSTOMER WITH LIFE-SAVING EQUIPMENT" SHALL HAVE THE SAME MEANING AS A
 PERSON LIVING IN A RESIDENCE THAT USES A LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEM AS  DEFINED
 IN SUBDIVISION TWELVE OF SECTION SIXTY-FIVE OF THIS ARTICLE.
   2.  CUSTOMERS  WITH  LIFE-SAVING  EQUIPMENT. (A) ELECTRIC CORPORATIONS
 SHALL ESTABLISH A UNIQUE PRIORITY PHONE  NUMBER  THAT  SHALL  REMAIN  IN
 OPERATION  EVERY  DAY  OF THE YEAR FOR CUSTOMERS WITH LIFE-SAVING EQUIP-
 MENT.
   (B)INFORMATION REGARDING SUCH PHONE NUMBER SHALL BE PROVIDED  IN  BILL
 INSERTS,  VIA  E-MAIL, AND POSTED ON ELECTRIC CORPORATIONS' WEBSITES AND
 SHALL INCLUDE REMINDERS FOR EXISTING CUSTOMERS WITH  LIFE-SAVING  EQUIP-
 MENT  TO  CALL  SUCH NUMBER TO ENSURE THEY ARE STILL REGISTERED WITH THE
 ELECTRIC CORPORATION AS A CUSTOMER WITH LIFE-SAVING EQUIPMENT.
   (C) CUSTOMERS WITH LIFE-SAVING EQUIPMENT SHALL BE ABLE  TO  CALL  SUCH
 NUMBER  ESTABLISHED  BY  PARAGRAPH  (A) OF THIS SUBDIVISION AT ANY TIME,
 INCLUDING A TIME PRECEDING OR DURING AN ELECTRIC SERVICE DISRUPTION TO:
   I. REGISTER WITH AN ELECTRIC CORPORATION SO AS TO  BE  PLACED  ON  ITS
 CURRENT  LIST  OF  CUSTOMERS  WHO  USE  LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS PURSUANT TO
 SUBDIVISION TWELVE OF SECTION SIXTY-FIVE OF THIS ARTICLE;
   II. RECEIVE INFORMATION OR PROJECTIONS REGARDING  THE  SEVERITY  OF  A
 STORM, STORM-LIKE ELECTRIC EMERGENCY OR SYSTEM EMERGENCY, IF APPLICABLE;
   III.  REPORT  AN  OUTAGE  OR  RECEIVE INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO REPORT AN
 OUTAGE;
   IV. RECEIVE UPDATED INFORMATION REGARDING THE ESTIMATED TIME OF RESTO-
 RATION, INCLUDING WEBSITE LINKS TO  OUTAGE  MAPS  UPDATED  EVERY  THIRTY
 MINUTES, IF APPLICABLE;
   V.  RECEIVE  OUTAGE  SAFETY PRECAUTIONS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:
 STORM SURVIVAL WITHOUT  ELECTRIC  POWER,  SAFETY  PRECAUTIONS  REGARDING
 ELECTRICAL  HAZARDS SUCH AS DOWNED WIRES AND THE USE OF PORTABLE GENERA-
 TORS;
   VI. RECEIVE INFORMATION REGARDING DRY ICE DISTRIBUTION, IF APPLICABLE;
   VII. RECEIVE INFORMATION REGARDING POWER CHARGING LOCATIONS, IF APPLI-
 CABLE;
   VIII. RECEIVE INFORMATION REGARDING COOLING LOCATIONS, IF APPLICABLE;
   IX. RECEIVE INFORMATION REGARDING THE CLAIMS PROCESS FOR SPOILED  FOOD
 AND MEDICATION, IF APPLICABLE;
   X.  RECEIVE  POTENTIAL  INFORMATION  ADOPTED  PURSUANT TO A RULEMAKING
 PROCEEDING COMMENCED BY THE COMMISSION REGARDING RESTORATION PRIORITIZA-
 TION, BACKUP GENERATORS, OR COMPENSATION FOR LODGING IN THE EVENT OF  AN
 ELECTRIC SERVICE DISRUPTION FOR CUSTOMERS WITH LIFE-SAVING EQUIPMENT, IF
 APPLICABLE; AND
   XI.  RECEIVE  INFORMATION REGARDING THE FACILITATION OF TRANSPORTATION
 TO THE NEAREST HOSPITAL OR FACILITY THAT IS CAPABLE  OF  POWERING  LIFE-
 SAVING EQUIPMENT, IF APPLICABLE.
   § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.