S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8421
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               June 9, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. KRUEGER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
 
 AN ACT to amend the public service law, the transportation  corporations
   law  and  the labor law, in relation to enacting the "Customer Savings
   and Reliability Act"

   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Short  title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
 the "Customer Savings and Reliability Act".
   § 2. The public service law is amended by adding two new sections 66-x
 and 66-y to read as follows:
   § 66-X. REGIONAL AFFORDABLE GAS TRANSITION PLANS.   1. NO  LATER  THAN
 TWO YEARS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION, THE COMMISSION SHALL
 DIVIDE  THE STATE INTO GAS TRANSITION PLANNING REGIONS, GIVING CONSIDER-
 ATION TO UTILITY SERVICE TERRITORIES, AND, IN  CONSULTATION  WITH  LOCAL
 GOVERNMENTS  AND GAS CORPORATIONS, PUBLISH REGIONAL AFFORDABLE GAS TRAN-
 SITION PLANS TO GUIDE AN ORDERLY, AFFORDABLE, AND EQUITABLE RIGHT-SIZING
 OF THE UTILITY GAS SYSTEM IN A MANNER THAT  ALIGNS  WITH,  AND  SUPPORTS
 ACHIEVEMENT  OF,  THE CLIMATE JUSTICE AND EMISSIONS REDUCTION PROVISIONS
 IN CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED SIX OF THE LAWS OF TWO THOUSAND NINETEEN,  INCOR-
 PORATING IN SUCH PLAN PRUDENT INVESTMENTS AND STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITIES TO
 GENERATE  COST  EFFICIENCIES  AND SAVINGS FOR GAS AND ELECTRIC CUSTOMERS
 AND REDIRECT RESOURCES TOWARD ASSISTING CUSTOMERS TO UPGRADE THEIR HOMES
 AND ENERGY APPLIANCES, AND RECOGNIZING THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF EACH  RESPEC-
 TIVE  REGION  OF THE STATE. EACH REGIONAL PLAN SHALL INCLUDE, AT A MINI-
 MUM:
   (A) TARGETS FOR THE TRANSITION OF GAS SYSTEM INFRASTRUCTURE AND RECOM-
 MENDATIONS FOR PLANNING AND INVESTMENT STRATEGIES FOR THE  AFFECTED  GAS
 CORPORATIONS TO ACHIEVE SUCH TARGETS.
   (B) GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR REGIONAL SAVINGS AND RELIABILITY PROGRAMS
 PURSUANT  TO SECTION SIXTY-SIX-Y OF THIS ARTICLE, REGARDING CRITERIA FOR
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD05559-14-5
              

 S. 8421                             2
 
 APPROVAL OF SUCH  PROGRAMS  AND  NEIGHBORHOOD  GAS  TRANSITION  PROJECTS
 IMPLEMENTED AS PART OF SUCH PROGRAMS, INCLUDING REQUIREMENTS:
   (I)  TO  ENSURE  CUSTOMERS  AFFECTED  BY A NEIGHBORHOOD GAS TRANSITION
 PROJECT HAVE CONTINUED ACCESS TO SAFE AND RELIABLE ENERGY  SERVICES  FOR
 HEATING, COOLING, COOKING, AND WATER HEATING;
   (II)  FOR UTILITIES TO NOTIFY CUSTOMERS AFFECTED BY A NEIGHBORHOOD GAS
 TRANSITION PROJECT IN A TIMELY MANNER;
   (III) TO  ENSURE  THE  ABILITY  OF  THE  ELECTRICAL  GRID  TO  SAFELY,
 ADEQUATELY,  AND  RELIABLY  SUPPORT  ANY  NEW ELECTRIC LOAD CREATED BY A
 REGIONAL SAVINGS AND RELIABILITY PROGRAM, AND INCLUDE  PARTICIPATION  BY
 THE  RELEVANT  ELECTRIC  CORPORATIONS  AND THE FEDERALLY DESIGNATED BULK
 SYSTEM OPERATOR IN ANY COORDINATION ACTIVITIES REGARDING  ELECTRIC  GRID
 PLANNING; AND
   (IV) TO PRIORITIZE VOLUNTARY DISCONNECTIONS FROM GAS SERVICE, TO MINI-
 MIZE THE COST OF TRANSITION FOR EXISTING GAS AND ELECTRIC CUSTOMERS, AND
 TO ENCOURAGE UTILIZATION OF EXISTING RESOURCES FOR WEATHERIZATION, ENER-
 GY EFFICIENCY, AND ELECTRIFICATION PROGRAMS AVAILABLE IN THE STATE.
   (C)  IN  COLLABORATION  WITH THE STATE'S GAS AND ELECTRIC CORPORATIONS
 AND AFFECTED LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, IDENTIFICATION OF A PRELIMINARY LIST  OF
 NEIGHBORHOOD  GAS  TRANSITION  PROJECTS BEST SUITED FOR REGIONAL SAVINGS
 AND RELIABILITY PROGRAMS PURSUANT TO SECTION SIXTY-SIX-Y OF  THIS  ARTI-
 CLE.  FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS ARTICLE, ANY GROUP OF CUSTOMERS OR HOUSE-
 HOLDS  CONNECTED TO THE GAS PLANT FROM A SHARED, DISCRETE, AND LOCALIZED
 OR TERMINAL PORTION OF THE GAS PLANT, WHICH IS NOT  FUNDAMENTAL  TO  THE
 PROVISION  OF  SERVICE  TO  CUSTOMERS  OUTSIDE  OF  SUCH PORTION, MAY BE
 CONSIDERED A NEIGHBORHOOD. SUCH IDENTIFICATION PROCESS SHALL CONSIDER:
   (I) THE CAPACITY OF THE RELEVANT ELECTRIC PLANT TO  PROVIDE  SAFE  AND
 ADEQUATE SERVICE;
   (II)  THE  COST  EFFECTIVENESS  OF  EACH  NEIGHBORHOOD  GAS TRANSITION
 PROJECT; AND
   (III) THE AGE OF EACH GAS CORPORATION'S MAINS AND SERVICE LINES, THEIR
 PRONENESS TO LEAK GAS, AND REPLACEMENT COSTS. ANY RESULTING  AREAS  WITH
 AGED  PIPES,  HIGH  COST  OF  REPLACEMENT, AND LEAK-PRONE PIPES SHALL BE
 INCLUDED IN SUCH PRELIMINARY LIST.
   (D) AN OVERVIEW OF THE COST EFFICIENCIES AND BENEFITS THAT A GAS TRAN-
 SITION COULD PRODUCE FOR THE REGION'S RATEPAYERS.
   (E) ANY OTHER CONSIDERATIONS THE COMMISSION DEEMS APPROPRIATE.
   2. IN DEVELOPING REGIONAL AFFORDABLE GAS TRANSITION PLANS PURSUANT  TO
 THIS SECTION, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL HOLD AT LEAST FOUR PUBLIC HEARINGS IN
 EACH  REGION,  PROVIDED THAT AT LEAST ONE HEARING SHALL BE VIRTUAL, AND,
 ONE SHALL BE HELD IN A DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITY, AS  DEFINED  IN  SECTION
 75-0101  OF  THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION LAW, IF THE REGION, IN WHOLE
 OR IN PART, CONTAINS A DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITY.
   3. UPON COMPLETION, EACH REGIONAL AFFORDABLE GAS TRANSITION PLAN SHALL
 BE MADE AVAILABLE ON THE DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE AND SHALL BE DELIVERED  TO
 THE  GOVERNOR, THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, AND THE SPEAKER OF
 THE ASSEMBLY, AND EACH MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE WHOSE DISTRICT IS WHOL-
 LY OR PARTIALLY CONTAINED WITHIN THE REGION ENCOMPASSED BY SUCH PLAN.
   § 66-Y. REGIONAL SAVINGS AND RELIABILITY PROGRAMS. 1.  THE  COMMISSION
 MAY,  FOR  ANY  GAS CORPORATION IN THIS STATE, ISSUE AN ORDER TO DEVELOP
 REGIONAL SAVINGS AND RELIABILITY PROGRAMS PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION,  AND
 IN  ACCORDANCE  WITH  THE  REGIONAL  AFFORDABLE  GAS  TRANSITION PLAN IN
 SECTION SIXTY-SIX-X OF THIS ARTICLE, AND SHALL REQUIRE PARTICIPATION  OF
 SUCH  GAS CORPORATION AS NECESSARY FOR IMPLEMENTATION. A GAS CORPORATION
 THAT SEEKS TO OPT OUT OF SUCH A PROGRAM SHALL FILE A PETITION  WITH  THE
 COMMISSION  WITHIN  SIXTY  DAYS  OF  THE ISSUANCE OF SUCH ORDER, SETTING
 S. 8421                             3

 FORTH A REASONABLE BASIS FOR DECLINING TO DEVELOP THE PROGRAM, INCLUDING
 BUT NOT LIMITED TO CONCERNS  RELATED  TO  SYSTEM  RELIABILITY,  CUSTOMER
 AFFORDABILITY,  OR OPERATIONAL FEASIBILITY. UPON DETERMINING THE OPT-OUT
 IS  SUPPORTED BY A REASONABLE BASIS, THE COMMISSION SHALL GRANT THE OPT-
 OUT FOR A PERIOD NOT TO EXCEED FIVE YEARS, AFTER WHICH  THE  GAS  CORPO-
 RATION MUST EITHER SUBMIT A REVISED PROGRAM PROPOSAL OR FILE A NEW PETI-
 TION  TO  EXTEND  ITS  OPT-OUT,  SUPPORTED  BY  AN  UPDATED SHOWING OF A
 CONTINUING REASONABLE BASIS  FOR  NON-PARTICIPATION.    UPON  COMMISSION
 APPROVAL OF SUCH PROGRAM, SUCH GAS CORPORATION SHALL IMPLEMENT NEIGHBOR-
 HOOD GAS TRANSITION PROJECTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF DECOMMISSIONING DISCRETE
 SEGMENTS  OF  THE  UTILITY GAS SYSTEM IN ORDER TO PROVIDE FOR AN ORDERLY
 GAS SYSTEM TRANSITION TO GENERATE COST EFFICIENCIES AND SAVINGS FOR  GAS
 CUSTOMERS,  REDUCE  UNNECESSARY AND EXPENSIVE GAS INFRASTRUCTURE INVEST-
 MENTS, AND ACHIEVE CONSISTENCY WITH THE  CLIMATE  JUSTICE  AND  EMISSION
 REDUCTION PROVISIONS IN CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED SIX OF THE LAWS OF TWO THOU-
 SAND NINETEEN, AND SUCH SUCCESSORS IN LAW AND FUNCTION AS MAY ARISE FROM
 TIME TO TIME.  NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO PROHIBIT OR
 RESTRICT  A  GAS  CORPORATION FROM CONTINUING OR PROPOSING TARGETED NON-
 PIPE ALTERNATIVE PROJECTS OR ELECTRIFICATION  EFFORTS  THAT  REDUCE  GAS
 SYSTEM  INVESTMENT NEEDS, PROVIDED THAT SUCH EFFORTS ARE CONSISTENT WITH
 COMMISSION REGULATION AND DO NOT RESULT IN  INVOLUNTARY  DISCONTINUATION
 OF SERVICE OUTSIDE A PROGRAM APPROVED UNDER THIS SECTION.
   2.  PRIOR  TO JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND THIRTY, NO EXISTING RESIDEN-
 TIAL GAS CUSTOMER, AS SUCH TERM IS REFERENCED IN SECTION THIRTY OF  THIS
 CHAPTER,  SHALL  HAVE THEIR GAS SERVICE DISCONTINUED AS PART OF A NEIGH-
 BORHOOD GAS TRANSITION PROJECT  IMPLEMENTED  PURSUANT  TO  THIS  SECTION
 EXCEPT BY CONSENT OF SUCH CUSTOMER.
   3.  PROGRAMS  SHALL  BE  DESIGNED  TO  MAXIMIZE COST EFFICIENCIES FROM
 AVOIDED INVESTMENTS IN THE EXPANSION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE GAS  SYSTEM,
 AND REDIRECT RESOURCES TOWARD IMPLEMENTATION OF NEIGHBORHOOD GAS TRANSI-
 TION  PROJECTS, INCLUDING ASSISTING CUSTOMERS TO UPGRADE THEIR HOMES AND
 ENERGY APPLIANCES, INCLUDING THOSE USED FOR HEATING,  COOLING,  COOKING,
 AND  WATER HEATING, IN ADDITION TO UTILIZING STATE AND FEDERAL APPLIANCE
 AND EFFICIENCY INCENTIVE PROGRAMS AND OTHER AVAILABLE FUNDING STREAMS.
   4. PROGRAMS SHALL NOT RESULT IN DISCONTINUATION OF SERVICE  TO  BUILD-
 INGS  THAT  HOUSE  AN  INDUSTRIAL OR COMMERCIAL USE THAT IS DIFFICULT TO
 ELECTRIFY USING COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGY OR AN ENERGY INTENSIVE
 AND TRADE EXPOSED INDUSTRY, OR TO CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE AS SUCH  TERMS
 ARE  DEFINED BY THE COMMISSION, OR TO ANY BUILDING THAT IS EXEMPT PURSU-
 ANT TO SUBPARAGRAPH (III) OF  PARAGRAPH  (B)  OF  SUBDIVISION  SEVEN  OF
 SECTION 11-104 OF THE ENERGY LAW, EXCEPT BY CONSENT OF THE OWNER OF SUCH
 BUILDING OR BUILDINGS.
   5.  THE  COMMISSION  SHALL  ONLY APPROVE PROGRAMS THAT ENSURE THAT ALL
 AFFECTED RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS WILL:
   (A) HAVE CONTINUED ACCESS TO SAFE AND  RELIABLE  ENERGY  SERVICES  FOR
 HEATING, COOLING, COOKING, AND WATER HEATING;
   (B)  HAVE ACCESS TO FUNDING AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR THE PURCHASE AND
 INSTALLATION OF CUSTOMER-OWNED EQUIPMENT AT NO COST, AS WELL AS FOR  THE
 PURPOSES  OF  IDENTIFYING,  PLANNING, AND SECURING SERVICES TO UNDERTAKE
 WEATHERIZATION AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY MEASURES,  AND  PRE-ELECTRIFICATION
 UPGRADES, USING ANY RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR SUCH PURPOSES;
   (C)  BE GIVEN NOTICE AT LEAST TWO YEARS IN ADVANCE OF THE CESSATION OF
 GAS SERVICE, AND AT LEAST EVERY SIX MONTHS SUBSEQUENTLY, VIA  MAIL  AND,
 WHEN  APPLICABLE,  ELECTRONICALLY, AND, WHERE FEASIBLE, THROUGH AT LEAST
 ONE IN-PERSON CONTACT, AND BE PROVIDED  NOTIFICATION  OF  FINANCIAL  AND
 S. 8421                             4
 
 TECHNICAL  ASSISTANCE  AVAILABLE  TO  SUCH CUSTOMERS FROM THE UTILITY OR
 OTHER STATE OR FEDERAL PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT ELECTRIFICATION;
   (D)  HAVE  AN  OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ON THE PROPOSED NEIGHBORHOOD GAS
 TRANSITION PROJECT BEFORE IT IS FINALIZED; AND
   (E) BE PROVIDED NOTICE WHEN AN ADJACENT CUSTOMER  CONNECTED  TO  THEIR
 LOCAL  GAS  GRID  HAS VOLUNTARILY OPTED TO DISCONTINUE SERVICE, VIA MAIL
 AND, WHEN APPLICABLE, ELECTRONICALLY.
   6. PROGRAMS SHALL INCLUDE A CONSULTATION PROCESS FOR EACH NEIGHBORHOOD
 GAS TRANSITION PROJECT TO  SOLICIT  FEEDBACK  FROM  AFFECTED  CUSTOMERS,
 RELEVANT  MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS, AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE IN WHOSE
 DISTRICTS SUCH PROJECT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED.
   7. ANY NEIGHBORHOOD GAS TRANSITION PROJECT TO BE IMPLEMENTED  PURSUANT
 TO  THIS  SECTION SHALL REQUIRE THE CONSENT OF AT LEAST FIFTY PERCENT OF
 AFFECTED CUSTOMERS BEFORE SUCH PROJECT CAN BE IMPLEMENTED.
   8. PROGRAMS SHALL INCLUDE A REEVALUATION  OF  EACH  GAS  CORPORATION'S
 EXISTING  PLANS, POLICIES, AND PROGRAMS RELATED TO PROACTIVE REPLACEMENT
 OF GAS SYSTEM INFRASTRUCTURE BASED ON ANALYSES OF DISCRETE  SEGMENTS  OF
 THE GAS SYSTEM THAT ARE MOST SUITABLE TO BE PRIORITIZED FOR NEIGHBORHOOD
 GAS TRANSITION PROJECTS.
   9.  THE  COMMISSION SHALL ENSURE THAT ANY PROGRAM APPROVED PURSUANT TO
 THIS SECTION WILL NOT COMPROMISE THE SAFETY AND RELIABILITY OF THE ELEC-
 TRIC DISTRIBUTION GRID OR GAS DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM.
   10. PROGRAMS APPROVED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION  SHALL  NOT  COMPROMISE
 THE  ABILITY  OF  A  GAS CORPORATION TO SEEK TO RECOVER PRUDENT, COMMIS-
 SION-APPROVED INVESTMENTS IN INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WAS USED AND USEFUL.
   11. PRIOR TO APPROVAL, THE COMMISSION SHALL CONSIDER WHETHER A PROGRAM
 IS ADEQUATELY DESIGNED  TO  MITIGATE  POTENTIAL  FINANCIAL  HARDSHIP  TO
 AFFECTED  RESIDENTIAL  CUSTOMERS  IN  CONNECTION WITH THE REPLACEMENT OF
 GAS-FIRED APPLIANCES AS PART OF  NEIGHBORHOOD  GAS  TRANSITION  PROJECTS
 IMPLEMENTED PURSUANT TO THE PROGRAM.
   §  3. Subdivision 1 of section 4 of the public service law, as amended
 by chapter 594 of the laws of 2021, is amended to read as follows:
   1. There shall be in the department of public service a public service
 commission, which shall possess the powers and duties hereinafter speci-
 fied, and also all powers necessary or proper to enable it to carry  out
 the  purposes  of  this chapter AND TO ENABLE ACHIEVEMENT OF THE CLIMATE
 JUSTICE AND EMISSION REDUCTION PROVISIONS IN CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED SIX  OF
 THE LAWS OF TWO THOUSAND NINETEEN.  The commission shall consist of five
 members,  to  be  appointed  by the governor, by and with the advice and
 consent of the senate. A commissioner shall be designated as  [chairman]
 CHAIRPERSON  of the commission by the governor to serve in such capacity
 at the pleasure of the governor or until [his] THE  COMMISSIONER'S  term
 [as  commissioner]  expires whichever first occurs. At least one commis-
 sioner shall have experience in utility consumer advocacy. 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.
   § 4. Paragraph b of subdivision 1 of section 5 of the  public  service
 law,  as  amended by chapter 155 of the laws of 1970, is amended to read
 as follows:
   b. To the manufacture, conveying, transportation, sale or distribution
 of gas (natural or manufactured or mixture of both) and electricity  for
 light,  heat, COOLING or power, to gas plants and to electric plants and
 to the persons or corporations owning, leasing or operating the same.
 S. 8421                             5
 
   § 5. Section 30 of the public service law, as amended by  chapter  686
 of the laws of 2002, is amended to read as follows:
   § 30. Residential  gas,  electric  and  steam  service policy. 1. This
 article shall apply to the provision of all or  any  part  of  the  gas,
 electric  or  steam  service provided to any residential customer by any
 gas, electric or steam and municipalities corporation  or  municipality.
 It  is hereby declared to be the policy of this state that the continued
 provision of [all or any part of such gas,] electric and steam [service]
 SERVICES to all residential customers  without  unreasonable  qualifica-
 tions  or lengthy delays is necessary for the preservation of the health
 and general welfare, IS CONSISTENT WITH THE ACHIEVEMENT OF  THE  STATE'S
 CLIMATE  JUSTICE  AND  EMISSION  REDUCTION  GOALS,  and is in the public
 interest. IT IS FURTHER THE POLICY OF THIS STATE THAT ELECTRIC AND STEAM
 SERVICES TO ALL RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS,  AND  GAS  SERVICE  FOR  EXISTING
 RESIDENTIAL  CUSTOMERS  MUST  BE  PROVIDED  IN A MANNER THAT IS SAFE AND
 ADEQUATE, NOT UNJUSTLY DISCRIMINATORY OR UNDULY PREFERENTIAL, AND IN ALL
 RESPECTS JUST AND REASONABLE, WHILE PROVIDING FOR AN ORDERLY, AFFORDABLE
 AND EQUITABLE RIGHT-SIZING OF THE UTILITY GAS SYSTEM TO ACHIEVE CONSIST-
 ENCY WITH THE CLIMATE JUSTICE AND EMISSION REDUCTION PROVISIONS IN CHAP-
 TER ONE HUNDRED SIX OF THE LAWS  OF  TWO  THOUSAND  NINETEEN,  AND  SUCH
 SUCCESSORS IN LAW AND FUNCTION AS MAY ARISE FROM TIME TO TIME, ENCOURAG-
 ING  NEIGHBORHOOD-SCALE  TRANSITIONS  AND  THE  ELIMINATION  OF  ON-SITE
 CO-POLLUTANTS.
   2. (A) THE COMMISSION SHALL REGULATE FOR THE  CONTINUED  PROVISION  OF
 GAS  SERVICE  TO  ALL  EXISTING  RESIDENTIAL  GAS CUSTOMERS, UNLESS SUCH
 SERVICE IS DISCONTINUED BY THE CUSTOMER, OR IS DISCONTINUED PURSUANT  TO
 A  REGIONAL  SAVINGS  AND RELIABILITY PROGRAM APPROVED BY THE COMMISSION
 PURSUANT TO SECTION SIXTY-SIX-Y OF THIS CHAPTER.
   (B) FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, ANY NEW RESIDENTIAL GAS CUSTOMER
 PURCHASING OR RENTING OR  MOVING  INTO  A  BUILDING  WITH  EXISTING  GAS
 SERVICE, OR IN WHICH GAS SERVICE WAS TEMPORARILY INTERRUPTED, AS DEFINED
 BY  THE  COMMISSION,  INCLUDING  TEMPORARY INTERRUPTION FOR EMERGENCIES,
 DISASTERS, MAINTENANCE, REPAIRS, RENOVATION, OR  RESTORATION,  SHALL  BE
 TREATED AS AN EXISTING CUSTOMER UNLESS AND UNTIL SUCH SERVICE IS DISCON-
 TINUED  PURSUANT  TO A REGIONAL SAVINGS AND RELIABILITY PROGRAM APPROVED
 BY THE COMMISSION.
   3. NOTHING IN THIS ARTICLE SHALL BE INTERPRETED OR OTHERWISE CONSTRUED
 AS PREEMPTING A MUNICIPALITY FROM ADOPTING BUILDING CODES OR OTHER REGU-
 LATIONS REGARDING ON-SITE EMISSIONS FOR NEW AND EXISTING BUILDINGS WITH-
 IN THEIR LOCALITIES.
   § 6. Subdivisions 1, 3 and 4 of section 31 of the public service  law,
 as  added  by  chapter  713  of  the laws of 1981, are amended and a new
 subdivision 4-a is added to read as follows:
   1. (A) Every gas corporation,  electric  corporation  or  municipality
 shall provide residential service upon the oral or written request of an
 applicant,  provided  that  ANY  RESIDENTIAL  GAS  SERVICE SHALL ONLY BE
 PROVIDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION THIRTY OF THIS ARTICLE, AND PROVIDED
 FURTHER THAT the commission may require that requests for service be  in
 writing  under  circumstances  as  it  deems necessary and proper as set
 forth by regulation, and provided further that the applicant:
   [(a)] (I) makes full payment for residential utility service  provided
 to a prior account in [his] THE APPLICANT'S name; or
   [(b)]  (II)  agrees  to make payments under a deferred payment plan of
 any amounts due for service to a prior account in [his] THE  APPLICANT'S
 name and makes a down payment based on criteria to be established by the
 commission.  No such down payment shall exceed one-half of any money due
 S. 8421                             6
 
 from an applicant for residential utility service, or three months aver-
 age billing, whichever is less; or
   [(c)] (III) is a recipient of public assistance, supplemental security
 income or additional state payments pursuant to the social services law,
 or  is  an  applicant  for  such assistance, income or payments, and the
 utility corporation or the municipality receives  payment  from,  or  is
 notified  of  the  applicant's  eligibility  for utility payments by the
 social services official of the social services district in  which  such
 person  resides  for  amounts  due for service to a prior account in the
 applicant's name, together with guarantee  of  future  payments  to  the
 extent authorized by the social services law; AND
   (IV)  RECEIVES  CLEAR,  TIMELY  INFORMATION  FROM THE GAS CORPORATION,
 ELECTRIC CORPORATION, MUNICIPALITY, OR RETAIL  ENERGY  SERVICE  COMPANY,
 WRITTEN  IN PLAIN LANGUAGE, AVAILABLE IN THE TOP TWELVE MOST COMMON NON-
 ENGLISH LANGUAGES SPOKEN BY LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENT NEW YORKERS,  AND
 APPROVED  BY  THE  COMMISSION AFTER STAKEHOLDER INPUT, ON INCENTIVES AND
 OPPORTUNITIES FOR INSTALLING ENERGY-EFFICIENT ELECTRIC HEATING AND COOL-
 ING TECHNOLOGIES, WEATHERIZATION, DEMAND-SIDE MANAGEMENT,  AND  DISTRIB-
 UTED ENERGY RESOURCE PROGRAMS.
   (B)  NOTHING IN THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO PROHIBIT EXIST-
 ING GAS CUSTOMERS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION THIRTY OF THIS ARTICLE AND
 SUBJECT TO ANY OTHER REGULATIONS IMPLEMENTED  BY  THE  COMMISSION,  FROM
 RECONNECTING TO THE GAS DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM FOLLOWING A GAS INTERRUPTION
 DUE TO EMERGENCY REPAIRS OR REMEDIATION OF LEAKING EQUIPMENT.
   3.  Subject  to the requirements of subdivisions four, FOUR-A and five
 of this section, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION THIRTY OF THIS  ARTICLE,
 whenever  a  residential  customer  moves  to a new residence within the
 service territory of the same utility corporation or municipality,  [he]
 THE  APPLICANT shall be eligible to receive service at the new residence
 and such service shall be considered a continuation of  service  in  all
 respects EXCEPT FOR THE PURPOSES OF SECTION THIRTY OF THIS ARTICLE, with
 any  deferred  payment  agreement  honored,  and with all rights of such
 customer and such utility corporation provided  by  this  article  unim-
 paired.
   4.  In  the case of any application for ELECTRIC service to a building
 which is not supplied with electricity [or gas], a  utility  corporation
 or municipality shall be obligated to provide ELECTRIC service to such a
 building,  provided  however, that the commission may require applicants
 for service to buildings located in excess of one hundred feet from [gas
 or] electric transmission lines to pay or agree in writing to pay  mate-
 rial  and  installation  costs relating to the applicant's proportion of
 the pipe, conduit, duct or wire, or other facilities to be installed.
   4-A. IN THE CASE OF ANY APPLICATION FOR  GAS  SERVICE  TO  A  BUILDING
 WHICH  IS  NOT  SUPPLIED WITH GAS, A UTILITY CORPORATION OR MUNICIPALITY
 SHALL BE OBLIGATED TO PROVIDE GAS SERVICE TO SUCH BUILDING IN ACCORDANCE
 WITH COMMISSION REGULATION, PROVIDED HOWEVER, THAT THE COMMISSION  SHALL
 REQUIRE  APPLICANTS  FOR GAS SERVICE TO SUCH BUILDING TO PAY OR AGREE IN
 WRITING TO PAY MATERIAL AND INSTALLATION COSTS RELATING TO THE  PIPE  OR
 OTHER FACILITIES TO BE INSTALLED TO ENABLE SERVICE TO THE APPLICANT.
   §  7. Section 12 of the transportation corporations law, as separately
 amended by chapters 713 and 895 of the laws of 1981, is amended to  read
 as follows:
   §  12.  [Gas and electricity] ELECTRICITY must be supplied on applica-
 tion. Except in the case  of  an  application  for  residential  utility
 service  pursuant to article two of the public service law, upon written
 application of the owner or occupant of any building within one  hundred
 S. 8421                             7
 
 feet  of any [main of a gas corporation or gas and electric corporation,
 or a] line of an electric corporation or gas and  electric  corporation,
 appropriate to the service requested, and payment by [him] THE APPLICANT
 of  all  money due from [him] THE APPLICANT to the corporation, it shall
 supply [gas or] electricity as  may  be  required  for  [lighting]  such
 building,  notwithstanding  there be rent or compensation in arrears for
 gas or electricity supplied,  or  for  meter,  wire,  pipe  or  fittings
 furnished,  to  a former occupant thereof, unless such owner or occupant
 shall have undertaken or agreed with the former occupant to  pay  or  to
 exonerate  [him]  THE  FORMER OCCUPANT from the payment of such arrears,
 and shall refuse or neglect to pay the same; and if for the space of ten
 days after such application, and the deposit  of  a  reasonable  sum  as
 provided  in the next section, if required, the corporation shall refuse
 or neglect to supply gas or [electric light]  ELECTRICITY  as  required,
 such  corporation  shall forfeit and pay to the applicant the sum of ten
 dollars, and the further sum of five dollars for  every  day  thereafter
 during  which  such  refusal or neglect shall continue; provided that no
 such corporation shall be required to lay service pipes or wires for the
 purpose of supplying gas or electric light to any  applicant  where  the
 ground  in  which  such  pipe  or  wire  is required to be laid shall be
 frozen, or shall otherwise present serious obstacles to laying the same;
 nor unless the applicant, if required, shall deposit in advance with the
 corporation a sum of money sufficient to pay the cost  of  [his  propor-
 tion]  THE  APPLICANT'S  PORTION  of  the  pipe,  conduit,  duct or wire
 required to be installed, and the expense of the  installation  of  such
 portion.
   §  8.  The  transportation corporations law is amended by adding a new
 section 13 to read as follows:
   § 13. (A) GAS MUST BE  SUPPLIED  IN  ACCORDANCE  WITH  PUBLIC  SERVICE
 COMMISSION  RULES  AND REGULATIONS. EXCEPT IN THE CASE OF AN APPLICATION
 FOR RESIDENTIAL UTILITY SERVICE PURSUANT TO ARTICLE TWO  OF  THE  PUBLIC
 SERVICE  LAW,  UPON  WRITTEN APPLICATION OF THE OWNER OR OCCUPANT OF ANY
 BUILDING WITHIN ONE HUNDRED FEET OF ANY MAIN OF A GAS CORPORATION OR GAS
 AND ELECTRIC CORPORATION  APPROPRIATE  TO  THE  SERVICE  REQUESTED,  AND
 PAYMENT  BY  THE  APPLICANT  OF  ALL MONEY DUE FROM THE APPLICANT TO THE
 CORPORATION, IT SHALL SUPPLY GAS FOR SUCH BUILDING  IN  ACCORDANCE  WITH
 PUBLIC  SERVICE COMMISSION REGULATIONS, NOTWITHSTANDING THERE BE RENT OR
 COMPENSATION IN ARREARS FOR GAS SUPPLIED, OR FOR METER, PIPE OR FITTINGS
 FURNISHED, TO A FORMER OCCUPANT THEREOF, UNLESS SUCH OWNER  OR  OCCUPANT
 SHALL  HAVE  UNDERTAKEN  OR AGREED WITH THE FORMER OCCUPANT TO PAY OR TO
 EXONERATE THE FORMER OCCUPANT FROM THE  PAYMENT  OF  SUCH  ARREARS,  AND
 SHALL  REFUSE  OR  NEGLECT  TO PAY THE SAME; AND IF FOR THE SPACE OF TEN
 DAYS AFTER SUCH APPLICATION, AND THE DEPOSIT OF  A  REASONABLE  SUM,  IF
 REQUIRED,  THE  CORPORATION  SHALL  REFUSE  OR  NEGLECT TO SUPPLY GAS AS
 REQUIRED PURSUANT TO PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION  RULES  AND  REGULATIONS,
 SUCH  CORPORATION  SHALL FORFEIT AND PAY TO THE APPLICANT THE SUM OF TEN
 DOLLARS, AND THE FURTHER SUM OF FIVE DOLLARS FOR  EVERY  DAY  THEREAFTER
 DURING  WHICH  SUCH  REFUSAL OR NEGLECT SHALL CONTINUE; PROVIDED THAT NO
 SUCH CORPORATION SHALL BE REQUIRED TO LAY SERVICE PIPES FOR THE  PURPOSE
 OF  SUPPLYING  GAS TO ANY APPLICANT WHERE THE GROUND IN WHICH SUCH PIPES
 ARE REQUIRED TO BE LAID SHALL BE  FROZEN,  OR  SHALL  OTHERWISE  PRESENT
 SERIOUS  OBSTACLES  TO  LAYING  THE SAME; NOR UNLESS THE APPLICANT SHALL
 DEPOSIT IN ADVANCE WITH THE CORPORATION A SUM OF MONEY SUFFICIENT TO PAY
 THE MATERIAL AND INSTALLATION COSTS RELATING TO THE PIPE OR OTHER FACIL-
 ITIES TO BE INSTALLED TO ENABLE SERVICE TO THE APPLICANT.
 S. 8421                             8
 
   (B) ANY ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE COMMISSION PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH  (A)  OF
 THIS SECTION AND PURSUANT TO APPLICABLE RULES AND REGULATIONS SHALL AT A
 MINIMUM,  REQUIRE  THE  PROVISION OF GAS SERVICE TO ANY BUILDING THAT IS
 EXEMPT PURSUANT TO SUBPARAGRAPH (III) OF PARAGRAPH  (B)  OF  SUBDIVISION
 SEVEN  OF SECTION 11-104 OF THE ENERGY LAW OR WHEN PROVISION OF SUCH GAS
 SERVICE MAY REDUCE ELECTRIC LOADS AS NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN THE RELIABIL-
 ITY OF THE ELECTRICAL PLANT.
   § 9. Subdivision 1 of section 224-d of the labor law,  as  amended  by
 section 31 of part O of chapter 58 of the laws of 2024, is amended and a
 new subdivision 9 is added to read as follows:
   1.  For  purposes of this section, a "covered renewable energy system"
 means (a) a renewable energy system, as such term is defined in  section
 sixty-six-p  of  the  public service law, with a capacity of one or more
 megawatts alternating current and  which  involves  the  procurement  of
 renewable energy credits by a public entity, or a company or corporation
 provided  in subdivisions twenty-three and twenty-four of section two of
 the public service law, or a third party acting on behalf  and  for  the
 benefit  of a public entity; (b) any "thermal energy network" as defined
 by subdivision twenty-nine of section two of the public service law; (c)
 any offshore wind supply chain project, including  but  not  limited  to
 port infrastructure, primary component manufacturing, finished component
 manufacturing, subassembly manufacturing, subcomponent manufacturing, or
 raw  material producers, or a combination thereof receiving direct fund-
 ing from the New York state energy research  and  development  authority
 pursuant to an award under a New York state energy research and develop-
 ment  authority  solicitation;  [or]  (d)  a "major utility transmission
 facility" as such term is defined by section one hundred twenty  of  the
 public  service  law;  OR  (E)  ANY  COVERED NEIGHBORHOOD GAS TRANSITION
 PROJECT, AS DEFINED BY SUBDIVISION NINE OF THIS SECTION.
   9. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, A "COVERED NEIGHBORHOOD  GAS  TRANSI-
 TION  PROJECT"  SHALL MEAN A PROJECT PERFORMED BY CONTRACTORS OR SUBCON-
 TRACTORS HIRED DIRECTLY BY A  PUBLIC  UTILITY  COMPANY,  AS  DEFINED  BY
 SUBDIVISION  TWENTY-THREE  OF  SECTION TWO OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE LAW, TO
 ENSURE THAT CUSTOMERS PERMANENTLY TRANSITIONING OFF UTILITY GAS  SERVICE
 AS  PART  OF  A  REGIONAL  SAVINGS  AND  RELIABILITY PROGRAM PURSUANT TO
 SECTION SIXTY-SIX-Y OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE LAW HAVE CONTINUED  ACCESS  TO
 SAFE  AND  RELIABLE  ENERGY  SERVICES FOR HEATING, COOLING, COOKING, AND
 WATER HEATING. A COVERED NEIGHBORHOOD GAS TRANSITION PROJECT  SHALL  NOT
 INCLUDE  A PROJECT PERFORMED UNDER PRIVATE CONTRACT WITH AN ENTITY OTHER
 THAN A PUBLIC  UTILITY  COMPANY,  EVEN  IF  SUCH  ENTITY  OR  CONTRACTOR
 RECEIVES FINANCIAL AND/OR TECHNICAL SUPPORT FROM A PUBLIC UTILITY COMPA-
 NY, INCLUDING FOR THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF CUSTOMER-OWNED EQUIP-
 MENT.
   §  10. Severability. If any word, phrase, clause, sentence, paragraph,
 section, or part of this act shall be adjudged by any court of competent
 jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect,  impair,  or
 invalidate the remainder thereof, but shall be confined in its operation
 to the word, phrase, clause, sentence, paragraph, section, or part ther-
 eof  directly  involved  in the controversy in which such judgment shall
 have been rendered. It is hereby declared to be the intent of the legis-
 lature that this act would  have  been  enacted  even  if  such  invalid
 provisions had not been included herein.
   § 11. This act shall take effect December 31, 2025.