NY State Senate Bill S1199A

Current Bill Status - Passed Senate

Introduced
In Committee
On Floor Calendar
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
Delivered to Governor
Signed/Vetoed by Governor

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Actions

view actions (9)

	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
May 18, 2023	referred to energy delivered to assembly passed senate
Mar 21, 2023	advanced to third reading
Mar 20, 2023	2nd report cal.
Mar 16, 2023	1st report cal.527
Mar 08, 2023	print number 1199a
Mar 08, 2023	amend and recommit to energy and telecommunications
Jan 10, 2023	referred to energy and telecommunications

Votes

view votes

May 18, 2023 - floor Vote

S1199A

floor

Aye

Nay

Absent

Excused

Abstained

Mar 14, 2023 - Energy and Telecommunications committee Vote

S1199A

committee

Aye

Nay

Aye with Reservations

Absent

Excused

Abstained

show Energy and Telecommunications committee vote details

Energy and Telecommunications Committee Vote: Mar 14, 2023

aye (7)

nay (1)

Walczyk

aye wr (1)

O'Mara

Bill Amendments

Original

A (Active)

Original

A (Active)

S1199 - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A4497
Law Section:: Public Service Law
Laws Affected:: Add §66-v, Pub Serv L
Versions Introduced in 2021-2022 Legislative Session:: S8984, A10479

S1199 - Summary

Relates to establishing minimum standards for payment plans for eligible customers; requires the public service commission to set standards for payment plans for certain customers including reasonableness of agreements and timelines for payment; establishes eligibility.

S1199 - Sponsor Memo

 
BILL NUMBER: S1199

SPONSOR: PARKER
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the public service law, in relation to establishing
minimum standards for payment plans for eligible customers

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

The purpose of this bill is to direct the Public Service Commission to
set minimum stand for payment plans established by utility companies in
the state.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends the public service law. Authorizes and directs the
Public Service Commission to set standards for payment plans set up by
utilities for eligible customers.

Subsection la - Whether a payment is reasonable

(b) - payment plans shall consist of average customer's estimated cost
over a period of 10 or 12 months.

(c)- Requires that each payment plan shall give customers 21 days from
which the bill sent to pay it in full.

(d)- In the event of a rate case, eligible customer payment plans shall
be adjusted to reflect the change.

(e) - payment plans may not be terminated unless certain actions are
taken by the customer or unless it is necessary.  Subsection 2 sets the
requirements for establishing eligibility for a customer.

Section 2 sets the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

During a long period of inflation and extraordinarily high energy rates
payment plans should be more accessible and available to individuals who
have demonstrated the need. Payment plan should be tools to help low-in-
come families and those struggling to pay their bills better structure
to do so instead of tools for generational debt. This legislation
directs the Public Service Commission to establish standards that utili-
ty companies must abide by when providing payment plans so that custom-
ers are not harmed by the terms.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2021-22: S8984 - COMMITTED TO RULES

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

S1199 - Bill Text download pdf

 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   1199
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 10, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  PARKER -- 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 establishing
   minimum standards for payment plans for eligible customers

   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  The public service law is amended by adding a new section
 66-u to read as follows:
   § 66-U. MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR PAYMENT  PLANS.  1.  THE  COMMISSION  IS
 AUTHORIZED  AND DIRECTED TO SET STANDARDS FOR PAYMENT PLANS FOR ELIGIBLE
 CUSTOMERS SET UP BY UTILITY COMPANIES. SUCH STANDARDS SHALL INCLUDE:
   (A) WHETHER A PAYMENT AGREEMENT IS REASONABLE. REASONABLENESS SHALL BE
 DETERMINED BY CONSIDERING THE CURRENT HOUSEHOLD INCOME, ABILITY TO  PAY,
 PAYMENT HISTORY INCLUDING PRIOR DEFAULTS ON SIMILAR AGREEMENTS, THE SIZE
 OF  THE  BILL,  THE AMOUNT OF TIME AND THE REASONS WHY THE BILL HAS BEEN
 OUTSTANDING, AND ANY SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES  CREATING  EXTREME  HARDSHIPS
 WITHIN  THE  HOUSEHOLD.  THE  UTILITY  COMPANY MAY REQUIRE THE PERSON TO
 CONFIRM FINANCIAL DIFFICULTY WITH AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT FROM  ANOTHER  STATE
 OR LOCAL AGENCY;
   (B)  REQUIRING  EACH UTILITY COMPANY TO MAKE AVAILABLE TO ITS RESIDEN-
 TIAL CUSTOMERS FOR UTILITY SERVICE PROVIDED AT  THE  CUSTOMER'S  PRIMARY
 RESIDENCE  A  PAYMENT PLAN WHICH AVERAGES ESTIMATED UTILITY COSTS OVER A
 TEN-MONTH OR TWELVE-MONTH PERIOD TO ELIMINATE, INSOFAR AS IT IS  PRACTI-
 CABLE, SEASONAL FLUCTUATIONS IN UTILITY BILLS;
   (C) REQUIRING EACH UTILITY COMPANY TO PERMIT EACH CUSTOMER A PERIOD OF
 NOT  LESS THAN TWENTY-ONE DAYS FROM THE DATE THE BILL WAS SENT TO PAY IN
 FULL, UNLESS THE CUSTOMER AND THE UTILITY AGREE ON A DIFFERENT DUE DATE.
 A UTILITY COMPANY SHALL NOT WITHDRAW FUNDS  FROM  A  CUSTOMER'S  ACCOUNT
 BEFORE  THE  DUE  DATE  IN CASES WHERE A CUSTOMER USES AN AUTOMATIC BILL
 PAYMENT PLAN UNLESS THE CUSTOMER AGREES TO A DIFFERENT PERIOD;
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD04259-01-3

 S. 1199                             2
 
   (D) IN THE EVENT A RATE CHANGE  APPROVED  BY  THE  COMMISSION  BECOMES
 EFFECTIVE  WHILE A RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER IS ENROLLED IN AND IN COMPLIANCE
 WITH A PAYMENT PLAN, THE EFFECT OF THE RATE  CHANGE  SHALL  BE  INCLUDED
 RATABLY OVER THE REMAINDER OF THE PAYMENT PLAN PERIOD. INCLUDED WITH THE
 FIRST  ADJUSTED  BILL,  THE  UTILITY COMPANY SHALL PROVIDE NOTICE TO THE
 CUSTOMER EXPLAINING THE REASON FOR THE CHANGE AND SHOWING A  CALCULATION
 OF HOW THE UTILITY COMPANY ARRIVED AT THE NEW MONTHLY PAYMENT; AND
   (E) WHILE ENROLLED IN A RESIDENTIAL PAYMENT PLAN A RESIDENTIAL CUSTOM-
 ER'S  UTILITY  SERVICE  MAY  NOT  BE  TERMINATED  UNLESS THE RESIDENTIAL
 CUSTOMER VIOLATES A RULE OF THE UTILITY COMPANY ON FILE WITH THE COMMIS-
 SION, DISCONNECTION IS NECESSARY FOR REASONS OF HEALTH, SAFETY, OR STATE
 OR NATIONAL EMERGENCIES, OR TERMINATION IS ORDERED  BY  THE  COMMISSION.
 PAYMENT  PLANS  SHALL  BE  OFFERED  TO  ALLOW A CUSTOMER TO PAY PAST-DUE
 AMOUNTS OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, UNLESS THE AMOUNTS OWING RELATE TO  THEFT
 OF  SERVICE,  TAMPERING,  AN  UNAUTHORIZED USE OF SERVICE, OR FAILURE TO
 ABIDE BY THE TERMS OF A TIME-PAYMENT PLAN. THE CUSTOMER SHALL  MAKE  THE
 INITIAL  PAYMENT WITHIN ONE BUSINESS DAY OF AGREEING TO THE TIME-PAYMENT
 PLAN.
   2. AN INDIVIDUAL OR HOUSEHOLD SHALL BE DETERMINED TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR A
 PAYMENT PLAN UNDER THIS SECTION IF SUCH INDIVIDUAL OR HOUSEHOLD PROVIDES
 DOCUMENTATION OF ELIGIBILITY TO THE  UTILITY  COMPANY  FOR  ANY  OF  THE
 FOLLOWING PROGRAMS:
   (A) TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES (FAMILY ASSISTANCE);
   (B) SAFETY NET ASSISTANCE (PUBLIC ASSISTANCE);
   (C) SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME (SSI);
   (D) SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP);
   (E) LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM;
   (F) VETERAN'S DISABILITY PENSION;
   (G) VETERAN'S SURVIVING SPOUSE PENSION;
   (H) CHILD HEALTH PLUS;
   (I) LIFELINE;
   (J) HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (HEAP);
   (K) DIRECT VENDOR OR UTILITY GUARANTEE;
   (L) TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE TO NEEDY FAMILIES (TANF);
   (M) SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY INSURANCE (SSDI);
   (N) EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (ERAP); AND
   (O)  ANY  OTHER  INCOME-BASED  ASSISTANCE  PROGRAM  IDENTIFIED  BY THE
 COMMISSION.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

Co-Sponsors

S1199A (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A4497
Law Section:: Public Service Law
Laws Affected:: Add §66-v, Pub Serv L
Versions Introduced in 2021-2022 Legislative Session:: S8984, A10479

S1199A (ACTIVE) - Summary

S1199A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

 
BILL NUMBER: S1199A

SPONSOR: PARKER
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the public service law, in relation to establishing
minimum standards for payment plans for eligible customers

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

The purpose of this bill is to direct the Public Service Commission to
set minimum stand for payment plans established by utility companies in
the state.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends the public service law. Authorizes and directs the
Public Service Commission to set standards for payment plans set up by
utilities for eligible customers.  Subsection la - Whether a payment is
reasonable

(b) - payment plans shall consist of average customer's estimated cost

over a period of 10 or 12 months.

(c)- Requires that each payment plan shall give customers 21 days from
which the bill sent to pay it in full.

(d)- In the event of a rate case, eligible customer payment plans shall
be adjusted to reflect the change.

(e) - payment plans may not be terminated unless certain actions are
taken by the customer or unless it is necessary. Subsection 2 sets the
requirements for establishing eligibility for a customer.

Section 2 sets the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

During a long period of inflation and extraordinarily high energy rates
payment plans should be more accessible and available to individuals who
have demonstrated the need. Payment plan should be tools to help low-in-
come families and those struggling to pay their bills better structure
to do so instead of tools for generational debt. This legislation
directs the Public Service Commission to establish standards that utili-
ty companies must abide by when providing payment plans so that custom-
ers are not harmed by the terms.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2021-22: S8984 - COMMITTED TO RULES

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

S1199A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  1199--A
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 10, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on  Energy  and  Telecommuni-
   cations  --  committee  discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as
   amended and recommitted to said committee
 
 AN ACT to amend the public service  law,  in  relation  to  establishing
   minimum standards for payment plans for eligible customers
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The public service law is amended by adding a  new  section
 66-v to read as follows:
   §  66-V.  MINIMUM  STANDARDS  FOR  PAYMENT PLANS. 1. THE COMMISSION IS
 AUTHORIZED AND DIRECTED TO SET STANDARDS FOR PAYMENT PLANS FOR  ELIGIBLE
 CUSTOMERS SET UP BY UTILITY COMPANIES. SUCH STANDARDS SHALL INCLUDE:
   (A) WHETHER A PAYMENT AGREEMENT IS REASONABLE. REASONABLENESS SHALL BE
 DETERMINED  BY CONSIDERING THE CURRENT HOUSEHOLD INCOME, ABILITY TO PAY,
 PAYMENT HISTORY INCLUDING PRIOR DEFAULTS ON SIMILAR AGREEMENTS, THE SIZE
 OF THE BILL, THE AMOUNT OF TIME AND THE REASONS WHY THE  BILL  HAS  BEEN
 OUTSTANDING,  AND  ANY  SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES CREATING EXTREME HARDSHIPS
 WITHIN THE HOUSEHOLD. THE UTILITY COMPANY  MAY  REQUIRE  THE  PERSON  TO
 CONFIRM  FINANCIAL  DIFFICULTY WITH AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT FROM ANOTHER STATE
 OR LOCAL AGENCY;
   (B) REQUIRING EACH UTILITY COMPANY TO MAKE AVAILABLE TO  ITS  RESIDEN-
 TIAL  CUSTOMERS  FOR  UTILITY SERVICE PROVIDED AT THE CUSTOMER'S PRIMARY
 RESIDENCE A PAYMENT PLAN WHICH AVERAGES ESTIMATED UTILITY COSTS  OVER  A
 TEN-MONTH  OR TWELVE-MONTH PERIOD TO ELIMINATE, INSOFAR AS IT IS PRACTI-
 CABLE, SEASONAL FLUCTUATIONS IN UTILITY BILLS;
   (C) REQUIRING EACH UTILITY COMPANY TO PERMIT EACH CUSTOMER A PERIOD OF
 NOT LESS THAN TWENTY-ONE DAYS FROM THE DATE THE BILL WAS SENT TO PAY  IN
 FULL, UNLESS THE CUSTOMER AND THE UTILITY AGREE ON A DIFFERENT DUE DATE.
 A  UTILITY  COMPANY  SHALL  NOT WITHDRAW FUNDS FROM A CUSTOMER'S ACCOUNT
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD04259-02-3
 S. 1199--A                          2

 
 BEFORE THE DUE DATE IN CASES WHERE A CUSTOMER  USES  AN  AUTOMATIC  BILL
 PAYMENT PLAN UNLESS THE CUSTOMER AGREES TO A DIFFERENT PERIOD;
   (D)  IN  THE  EVENT  A  RATE CHANGE APPROVED BY THE COMMISSION BECOMES
 EFFECTIVE OR IN THE EVENT THE SUPPLY PORTION OF A CUSTOMER'S  BILL  WILL
 BE  TEN  PERCENT  OR  HIGHER THAN THE SUPPLY COST FROM THE PRIOR BILLING
 CYCLE, WHILE A RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER IS ENROLLED  IN  AND  IN  COMPLIANCE
 WITH  A  PAYMENT  PLAN,  THE EFFECT OF THE RATE CHANGE SHALL BE INCLUDED
 RATABLY OVER THE REMAINDER OF THE PAYMENT PLAN PERIOD. INCLUDED WITH THE
 FIRST ADJUSTED BILL, THE UTILITY COMPANY SHALL  PROVIDE  NOTICE  TO  THE
 CUSTOMER  EXPLAINING THE REASON FOR THE CHANGE AND SHOWING A CALCULATION
 OF HOW THE UTILITY COMPANY ARRIVED AT THE NEW MONTHLY PAYMENT; AND
   (E) WHILE ENROLLED IN A RESIDENTIAL PAYMENT PLAN A RESIDENTIAL CUSTOM-
 ER'S UTILITY SERVICE  MAY  NOT  BE  TERMINATED  UNLESS  THE  RESIDENTIAL
 CUSTOMER VIOLATES A RULE OF THE UTILITY COMPANY ON FILE WITH THE COMMIS-
 SION, DISCONNECTION IS NECESSARY FOR REASONS OF HEALTH, SAFETY, OR STATE
 OR  NATIONAL  EMERGENCIES,  OR TERMINATION IS ORDERED BY THE COMMISSION.
 PAYMENT PLANS SHALL BE OFFERED TO  ALLOW  A  CUSTOMER  TO  PAY  PAST-DUE
 AMOUNTS  OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, UNLESS THE AMOUNTS OWING RELATE TO THEFT
 OF SERVICE, TAMPERING, AN UNAUTHORIZED USE OF  SERVICE,  OR  FAILURE  TO
 ABIDE  BY  THE TERMS OF A TIME-PAYMENT PLAN. THE CUSTOMER SHALL MAKE THE
 INITIAL PAYMENT WITHIN ONE BUSINESS DAY OF AGREEING TO THE  TIME-PAYMENT
 PLAN.
   2. AN INDIVIDUAL OR HOUSEHOLD SHALL BE DETERMINED TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR A
 PAYMENT PLAN UNDER THIS SECTION IF SUCH INDIVIDUAL OR HOUSEHOLD PROVIDES
 DOCUMENTATION  OF  ELIGIBILITY  TO  THE  UTILITY  COMPANY FOR ANY OF THE
 FOLLOWING PROGRAMS, PROVIDED SUCH DOCUMENTATION IS DATED NO  LATER  THAN
 THREE HUNDRED SIXTY-FIVE DAYS PRECEDING THE DATE OF THE PAYMENT PLAN:
   (A) TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES (FAMILY ASSISTANCE);
   (B) SAFETY NET ASSISTANCE (PUBLIC ASSISTANCE);
   (C) SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME (SSI);
   (D) SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP);
   (E) LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM;
   (F) VETERAN'S DISABILITY PENSION;
   (G) VETERAN'S SURVIVING SPOUSE PENSION;
   (H) CHILD HEALTH PLUS;
   (I) LIFELINE;
   (J) HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (HEAP);
   (K) DIRECT VENDOR OR UTILITY GUARANTEE;
   (L) TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE TO NEEDY FAMILIES (TANF);
   (M) SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY INSURANCE (SSDI);
   (N) EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (ERAP); AND
   (O)  ANY  OTHER  INCOME-BASED  ASSISTANCE  PROGRAM  IDENTIFIED  BY THE
 COMMISSION.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day  after  it  shall
 have become a law.

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The New York State Senate

senate Bill S1199A

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - Passed Senate

Your Voice

Actions

Votes

May 18, 2023 - floor Vote

Floor Vote: May 18, 2023

Mar 14, 2023 - Energy and Telecommunications committee Vote

Energy and Telecommunications Committee Vote: Mar 14, 2023

Bill Amendments

S1199 - Details

S1199 - Summary

S1199 - Sponsor Memo

S1199 - Bill Text download pdf

Co-Sponsors

S1199A (ACTIVE) - Details

S1199A (ACTIVE) - Summary

S1199A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

S1199A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

senate Bill S1199A

Share this bill

Sponsored By

Kevin S. Parker

Current Bill Status - Passed Senate

Your Voice

Actions

Votes

May 18, 2023 - floor Vote

Floor Vote: May 18, 2023

Mar 14, 2023 - Energy and Telecommunications committee Vote

Energy and Telecommunications Committee Vote: Mar 14, 2023

Bill Amendments

S1199 - Details

S1199 - Summary

S1199 - Sponsor Memo

S1199 - Bill Text download pdf

Co-Sponsors

Joseph P. Addabbo Jr

Iwen Chu

Andrew Gounardes

Brad Hoylman-Sigal

Timothy M. Kennedy

S1199A (ACTIVE) - Details

S1199A (ACTIVE) - Summary

S1199A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

S1199A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments