Assembly Bill A10135

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   10135
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             February 4, 2026
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. BARRETT -- read once and referred to the Commit-
   tee on Energy
 
 AN ACT to amend the public service law, in  relation  to  directing  the
   public  service commission to develop, publish, and update a guidebook
   on the gas and electric ratemaking process
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section 1. Section 66 of the public service law is amended by adding a
 new subdivision 33 to read as follows:
   33.    DEVELOP,  PUBLISH, AND UPDATE FROM TIME TO TIME, A GUIDEBOOK ON
 THE GAS AND ELECTRIC RATEMAKING PROCESS. SUCH GUIDEBOOK SHALL BE WRITTEN
 IN PLAIN LANGUAGE, IN A MANNER EASILY UNDERSTOOD BY THE GENERAL  PUBLIC,
 AND  SHALL  BE  MADE  AVAILABLE  IN A READILY ACCESSIBLE LOCATION ON THE
 DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE AND BE INCLUDED OR REFERENCED IN ANY COMMUNICATIONS
 RELATING TO THE COMMENCEMENT OF, OR  REQUESTING  PUBLIC  COMMENT  ON,  A
 MATTER  AFFECTING ANY RATE OR CHARGE THAT REQUIRES A HEARING PURSUANT TO
 THIS CHAPTER. SUCH GUIDEBOOK SHALL:
   (A) CONTAIN A DISTINCT SECTION TO  PROMOTE  PUBLIC  UNDERSTANDING  AND
 PARTICIPATION  IN  THE  GAS AND ELECTRIC RATEMAKING PROCESS, WHICH SHALL
 INCLUDE, AT A MINIMUM:
   (I) A BASIC OVERVIEW OF THE RATEMAKING PROCESS, INCLUDING ANY  COMMIS-
 SION-APPROVED ALTERNATIVE PROCEDURES, REGULATORY OR STATUTORY TIMELINES,
 AND A GLOSSARY OF RELEVANT TERMS;
   (II)  AN OVERVIEW OF THE ROLE OF THE PUBLIC IN THE RATEMAKING PROCESS,
 HOW TO COMMENT OR OTHERWISE PARTICIPATE, AND HOW THE COMMISSION  REVIEWS
 AND INCORPORATES PUBLIC COMMENTS;
   (III)  A  SUMMARY  OF THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS, COMPONENTS, AND GOALS OF
 THE RATEMAKING PROCESS AND THE ROLES OF  THE  UTILITY  CORPORATION,  THE
 COMMISSIONERS, DEPARTMENT STAFF, ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGES, AND INTERVENORS;
 AND
   (IV)  AN EXPLANATION OF HOW TO ACCESS RATEMAKING RELATED DOCUMENTATION
 AND RATE CASE SPECIFIC SUMMARIES AND MEMORANDA; AND
   (B) CONTAIN A DISTINCT SECTION TO FACILITATE THE  FORMAL  INTERVENTION
 AND PARTICIPATION OF INTERESTED OR AFFECTED PARTIES IN THE GAS AND ELEC-
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD14679-04-6
 A. 10135                            2
 
 TRIC  RATEMAKING PROCESS, WHICH, IN ADDITION TO ANY RELEVANT INFORMATION
 REQUIRED PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVISION,  SHALL  INCLUDE,
 AT A MINIMUM:
   (I)  A  DETAILED  AND PRACTICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE RATEMAKING PROCESS,
 INCLUDING ANY COMMISSION-APPROVED ALTERNATIVE PROCEDURES, THE PROCESS OF
 INTERVENING AND BECOMING A FORMAL PARTY, AND THE VARIOUS WAYS  IN  WHICH
 PARTIES MAY PARTICIPATE;
   (II) A SUMMARY OF THE STATUTORY AND REGULATORY RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBIL-
 ITIES  OF  PARTIES AND AN OVERVIEW OF THE ROLE AND POWERS OF ADMINISTRA-
 TIVE JUDGES;
   (III) AN EXPLANATION OF THE PRINCIPAL  PROCEDURAL  COMPONENTS  OF  THE
 RATEMAKING PROCESS, SUCH AS TESTIMONY, MOTIONS, INTERROGATORIES, DISCOV-
 ERY, EVIDENCE, AND HEARINGS;
   (IV)  A  SUMMARY OF ANY COMMISSION-APPROVED SETTLEMENT GUIDELINES, THE
 ROLE OF PARTIES IN SETTLEMENT, AND AN EXPLANATION OF  THE  STANDARDS  BY
 WHICH  THE  COMMISSION  REVIEWS  AND  MODIFIES  FINAL PROPOSALS PRIOR TO
 ADOPTION; AND
   (V) TEMPLATES AND EXAMPLES OF RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT MAY BE  REQUIRED
 OR SUBMITTED BY INTERVENING PARTIES.
   §  2.  The guidebook required by this act shall be published, and made
 available on the department of public service's website, no  later  than
 120 days after this act shall have become a law.
   § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.