BILL NUMBER: S8447

SPONSOR: WALCZYK
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the legislative law, in relation to establishing a
fiscal note on bills affecting ratepayers' costs for utility services

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

This bill would require any legislation that would impact ratepayer
costs to include a fiscal note on the estimated annual cost to ratepay-
ers, along with the source of such estimate.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: Adds section 52-a to the legislative law to define "ratepay-
er".

Section 2: Requires that any amendment or bill that would impact utility
costs on ratepayers to have a fiscal note attached with an estimate of
the annual cost to ratepayers, along with the source of said estimate.
              

 
JUSTIFICATION:

In 2023, the Department of Public Service (DPS) issued a report stating
the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) had already
increased residential utility bills. These increases, estimated to be
between 3.7% and 9.8%, make New York increasingly unaffordable. New York
already ranks 44th in the country for residential electricity rates, and
actions like the CLCPA only make the problem worse. With implementation
of the CLCPA just beginning, consumers will likely see their bills
continue to increase.

Ratepayers deserve transparency on how future legislation may impact
their energy costs. This bill would require a fiscal note for any amend-
ments to existing laws, or new bills, that would have a direct impact on
these costs. This transparency measure will help lawmakers and the
public alike determine how government is fixing this issue, or only
making it worse.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.