S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
7341
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
May 19, 2023
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Introduced by Sens. PARKER, MYRIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and
when printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance
AN ACT to amend the public service law, in relation to requiring the
public service commission retain an independent auditor to conduct
audits of private water utility companies prior to and after rate
changes are approved by the public service commission
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Subdivision 10 of section 89-c of the public service law is
amended by adding a new paragraph (b-1) to read as follows:
(B-1) PRIOR TO THE APPROVAL BY THE COMMISSION OF A CHANGE BY A PRIVATE
WATER UTILITY COMPANY IN ANY RATE OR CHARGE, OR IN ANY FORM OF CONTRACT
OR AGREEMENT OR ANY RULE OR REGULATION RELATING TO ANY RATE, CHARGE OR
SERVICE, OR IN ANY GENERAL PRIVILEGE OR FACILITY, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL
RETAIN A THIRD-PARTY AUDITOR TO CONDUCT AN AUDIT OF SUCH PRIVATE WATER
UTILITY COMPANY AND PROVIDE HIS OR HER FINDINGS TO THE COMMISSION IN
WRITING. THE THIRD-PARTY AUDITOR SHALL NOT BE AFFILIATED WITH THE
COMMISSION OR WITH ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION. IN THE
EVENT OF APPROVAL BY THE COMMISSION OF ANY SUCH CHANGE BY A PRIVATE
WATER UTILITY COMPANY IN RATE OR CHARGE, OR IN ANY FORM OF CONTRACT OR
AGREEMENT OR ANY RULE OR REGULATION RELATING TO ANY RATE, CHARGE OR
SERVICE, OR IN ANY GENERAL PRIVILEGE OR FACILITY, THE INDEPENDENT AUDI-
TOR SHALL CONDUCT A SECOND AUDIT OF THE PRIVATE WATER UTILITY COMPANY
ONE YEAR AFTER THE CHANGE TAKES EFFECT. THE COMMISSION SHALL PUBLISH THE
RESULTS OF ALL SUCH AUDITS ON ITS WEBSITE.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11220-01-3