S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
10993--A
I N A S S E M B L Y
April 14, 2026
___________
Introduced by M. of A. STECK -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions -- committee discharged,
bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said
committee
AN ACT to amend the public service law, in relation to the commissioners
of the public service commission
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 4 of the public service law, as amended by chapter
155 of the laws of 1970, subdivision 1 as amended by chapter 594 of the
laws of 2021, and subdivision 4 as added by chapter 584 of the laws of
2021, is amended to read as follows:
§ 4. The public service commission. 1. There shall be in the depart-
ment of public service a public service commission, which shall possess
the powers and duties hereinafter specified, and also all powers neces-
sary or proper to enable it to carry out the purposes of this chapter.
The commission shall consist of five members, to be appointed by the
governor, by and with the advice and consent of the senate. A commis-
sioner shall be designated as [chairman] CHAIRPERSON of the commission
by the governor to serve in such capacity at the pleasure of the gover-
nor or until [his] THEIR term as commissioner expires whichever first
occurs. At least [one commissioner] TWO COMMISSIONERS shall have experi-
ence in utility consumer advocacy. FOR EACH NEW COMMISSIONER, THE GOVER-
NOR SHALL MAKE APPOINTMENTS TO REASONABLY ENSURE THAT THE COMMISSIONERS
REPRESENT THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF FIELDS SPECIFIED IN SUBDIVISION FOUR OF
THIS SECTION. No more than three commissioners may be members of the
same political party unless, pursuant to action taken under subdivision
two of this section, the number of commissioners shall exceed five, and
in such event no more than four commissioners may be members of the same
political party.
2. Notwithstanding subdivision one OF THIS SECTION, whenever the
commission shall certify to the governor that additional commissioners
are needed for the proper disposition of the business before it, the
governor may increase the membership of the commission to seven members
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11584-07-6
A. 10993--A 2
by appointing two additional commissioners by and with the advice and
consent of the senate. The terms of office of such additional commis-
sioners and the filling of vacancies during such terms shall be governed
by subdivision three OF THIS SECTION, except that upon the expiration of
the terms of such additional commissioners, no further appointments or
reappointments shall be made to such additional offices, unless the
commission shall first certify to the governor that the need for addi-
tional commissioners continues to exist.
3. The term of office of a commissioner shall be six years from the
first day of February of the calendar year in which [he] SUCH COMMIS-
SIONER shall be appointed and commissioners shall serve on a full-time
basis. Upon a vacancy occurring otherwise than by expiration of term in
the office of any commissioner, the governor, by and with the advice and
consent of the senate, shall fill the vacancy by appointment for the
unexpired term.
4. Any commissioner appointed on or after July first, two thousand
twenty-two, pursuant to this section shall have education and training,
and three or more years of experience in one or more of the following
fields: economics[,]; engineering[,]; law[,]; accounting[,]; business
management[,]; utility regulation[,] INCLUDING THE REGULATION OF ELEC-
TRIC, GAS, STEAM, TELECOMMUNICATIONS, AND WATER; public policy[,];
consumer advocacy; or environmental management.
5. IN CARRYING OUT ITS POWERS AND DUTIES PURSUANT TO THIS CHAPTER, THE
COMMISSION SHALL HAVE A DUTY TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC INTEREST. SUCH DUTY
SHALL INCLUDE ENSURING AFFORDABLE, SAFE, SECURE, AND RELIABLE ACCESS TO
UTILITY SERVICES FOR RESIDENTIAL AND BUSINESS CUSTOMERS, INCLUDING ELEC-
TRIC, GAS, STEAM, TELECOMMUNICATIONS, AND WATER. DETERMINATIONS MADE OR
ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE COMMISSION IN CARRYING OUT ITS DUTIES SHALL PRIOR-
ITIZE THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE UTILITY CONSUMER AND AFFORDABILITY FOR
THE UTILITY CONSUMER.
§ 2. Section 9 of the public service law, as amended by chapter 155 of
the laws of 1970, is amended to read as follows:
§ 9. Oath of office; eligibility of commissioners and officers. Each
commissioner and each person appointed to office by the [chairman]
CHAIRPERSON shall, before entering upon the duties of [his] THEIR
office, take and subscribe the constitutional oath of office. The oaths
of office other than those of a commissioner shall be filed in the
office of the commission. No person shall be eligible for appointment or
shall hold the office of commissioner or be appointed to, or hold, any
office or position under the commission, who holds any official relation
to any person or corporation subject to the supervision of the commis-
sion, or who owns stocks or bonds of any such corporation. NO PERSON
SHALL BE ELIGIBLE FOR APPOINTMENT OR SHALL HOLD THE OFFICE OF COMMIS-
SIONER IF IN THE PREVIOUS TWO YEARS THEY WERE EMPLOYED BY AN ELECTRIC,
GAS, STEAM, TELECOMMUNICATIONS, OR WATER UTILITY THAT IS REGULATED BY
THE COMMISSION.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to any
commissioner appointed on or after such date.