Senate Bill S6412A

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S6412A

SPONSOR: O'MARA
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the public service law, in relation to enacting the
"ratepayer disclosure and transparency act"

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To add section 27 to public service in relation to requiring annual
reporting on state mandated energy programs.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 of the bill establishes the title of this legislation as the
Ratepayer Disclosure and Transparency Act.

Section 2 of the bill adds a new section 28 of the public service law
which would require the public service commission and the New York state
energy research and development authority to submit annual reports to
the governor and legislative leaders outlining the benefits of all
              

state-mandated energy programs. This section also requires such a report
to include Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act-related
programs, and further requires itemized lists of CLCPA compliance costs
to be displayed prominently on ratepayers' utility bills. All of this
information is to be available electronically. This section, lastly,
authorizes and directs the public service commission to establish rules
and regulations to implement the requirements of the legislation.

Section 3 provides for an effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

New York State has spent billions of taxpayer dollars into various
"green" programs without having done any meaningful cost benefit analy-
sis. For the first time, this bill would give consumers a clear view of
how their money is being spent. This legislation would require utility
companies to provide a detailed breakdown of the costs associated with
state-mandated programs. By adding a line-item expense report to utility
bills, this measure ensures greater transparency, allowing customers to
see exactly how their payments contribute to funding the following
programs:

1. The Clean Energy Standard Tier 1

2. The Clean Energy Standard Tier 2

3. The Clean Energy Standard Tier 3

4. The Clean Energy Standard Tier 4

5. Offshore Wind Initiative

6. Clean Energy Fund

7. Electric Energy Efficiency Programs

8. Gas Energy Efficiency Programs
9. Electric Heat Pump Programs

10. Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Investments

11. Electric Generation Facility Cessation Mitigation Program

12. Public Policy Transmission Projects

13. Local Transmission & Distribution Projects

14. Earnings Adjustment Mechanisms

15. Incentives for Distributed Energy Resources through net metering
arrangements

16. Energy Storage initiates

17. Low Income Assistance Programs

The State has collected Billions of dollars from ratepayers to support
various "Green" initiatives with absolutely no explanation to the rate-
payers of the amount they are paying for them and no accountability what
it is being spent on.

For example, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is a multi-
state carbon dioxide emission-reduction program that has been opera-
tional in New York State since 2008. The program requires the purchase
of pollution allowances at quarterly auctions, with a tax on each allow-
ance. The revenue from this initiative funds major portions of the
State's mandated programs. In addition, State regulations and energy
efficiency mandates are continuing to place additional fiscal pressure
on ratepayers. Programs that contribute to this pressure include: the
Clean Energy Standards these programs have spent billions of tax dollars
to subsidize Net Metering, the Systems Benefits Charge, the Renewable
Portfolio Standard, Energy Standards for Public Buildings and
Appliance/Equipment Efficiency Standards.

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)
has stated its goal of helping New York meet its energy goals through
reduced energy consumption, supporting the use of renewable energy and
protecting the environment. High energy taxes back all of the energy
efficiency incentives and financing options available through NYSERDA
for individuals and/or families with low to moderate incomes.  While
these extremely expensive programs may have laudable goals, this legis-
lation seeks to quantify their effect on New York State ratepayers, by
clearly identifying and publishing all of the energy related mandates,
and their true cost-benefit to the economy. This legislation sends a
message to those we represent that New York State customers should not
be overpaying for services, being treated unfairly, being taken advan-
tage of, or that their hard-earned incomes are not being frivolously
expended by State government.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

A.7263 2023-2024, held in Energy

A.5518 2021-2022, held in Energy

A.4163 2019-2020, held in Energy

A.4408 2017-2018, held in Energy

A.6892 2015-2016, held in Energy

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

Minimal.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.