NY State Senate Bill 2025-S5697

Senate Bill S5697

2025-2026 Legislative Session

Requires utility corporations and municipalities include in an email regarding a bill for service the amount owed on such bill for service

download bill text pdf

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Energy And Telecommunications Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Feb 28, 2025	referred to energy and telecommunications

2025-S5697 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Energy And Telecommunications
Law Section:: Public Service Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §44, Pub Serv L
Versions Introduced in 2023-2024 Legislative Session:: S8416

2025-S5697 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Requires utility corporations and municipalities include in an email regarding a bill for service the amount owed on such bill for service where the amount owed is prominently displayed and accurate.

2025-S5697 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S5697

SPONSOR: SKOUFIS
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the public service law, in relation to requiring utility
corporations and municipalities include in an email regarding a bill for
service the amount owed on such bill for service

 
PURPOSE:

To require utility corporations and municipalities to include the total
amount owed on a bill for their services in any email related to bill-
ing.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: Amends Section 44 of the public service law by adding a new
subdivision 8. It requires every utility corporation or municipality to
include the total amount owed by the customer on a bill for service in
emails related to billing. The total amount must be displayed prominent-
ly within the body of the email and must be easily visible to the

customer.

Section 2: Sets Effective Date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Many New Yorkers prefer electronic billing from their utility companies,
receiving bills through email notifications. However, some utilities
send email notifications that require multiple clicks, including a sign-
in process to view the total bill amount. Navigating this online process
can be frustrating and confusing, potentially leading customers to over-
look their total bill.

This proposed bill aims to enhance consumer awareness by mandating that
customers receive clear and easily identifiable information about the
the total amount owed for utility services directly within the email if
billing emails are sent to customers. By requiring utility corporations
and municipalities to include the total amount owed in the email, this
legislation seeks to ensure billing accuracy and empower customers to
make well-informed decisions about their payments.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

Senate

2023: N/A

2034: S8416, Referred to Energy and Telecommunications

Assembly

2023: No Assembly Same-As

2024: No Assembly Same-As

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have
become a law.

2025-S5697 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   5697
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 28, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. SKOUFIS -- 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 requiring utility
   corporations  and  municipalities include in an email regarding a bill
   for service the amount owed on such bill for service

   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Section 44 of the public service law is amended by adding a
 new subdivision 8 to read as follows:
   8.  EVERY UTILITY CORPORATION OR MUNICIPALITY SHALL EXPLICITLY INCLUDE
 IN ANY EMAILS SENT REGARDING A BILL FOR SERVICE TO RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS
 THE TOTAL AMOUNT OWED BY THE CUSTOMER ON  SUCH  BILL  FOR  SERVICE.  THE
 TOTAL AMOUNT DUE SHALL BE PROMINENTLY DISPLAYED IN THE BODY OF THE EMAIL
 AND SHALL BE CLEARLY AND EASILY VISIBLE TO THE CUSTOMER UPON OPENING THE
 EMAIL.  UTILITY  COMPANIES  SHALL ENSURE THAT THE BILL TOTAL IS ACCURATE
 AND UP-TO-DATE AT THE TIME OF SENDING THE EMAIL.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day  after  it  shall
 have become a law.
 
 
 
 
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD09800-01-5

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