Legislation

* § 114-a. Rates not to include cost of legislative lobbying. In
determining rates to be charged customers, the commission shall not
include the cost of legislative lobbying on behalf of any public utility
as part of any such utility's operational costs and the commission shall
not include the cost of membership dues for any organization,
association, institution, corporation or any other entity that engages
in legislative lobbying as part of any such utility's operational costs.
As used in this section, legislative lobbying shall mean and include any
attempt by any person on behalf of a public utility to influence the
passage or defeat of any legislation by either house of the legislature
or the congress, or the approval or disapproval of any legislation by
the governor; provided however, legislative lobbying shall not include
any appearance by any person on behalf of a public utility before a
committee of either house of the legislature or the congress where any
such appearance is at the request of any such committee.

* NB Effective until January 1, 2027

* § 114-a. Costs not to be included in rates. In determining rates to
be charged customers, the commission shall not include as part of any
public utility's operational costs:

1. Any direct or indirect costs associated with lobbying.

(a) Lobbying shall include any attempt to influence:

(i) the passage or defeat of any legislation or resolution by the
state legislature or the congress of the United States including but not
limited to the introduction or intended introduction of such legislation
or resolution or approval or disapproval of any legislation by the
governor or the president of the United States;

(ii) the adoption, issuance, rescission, modification or terms of an
executive order issued by the governor or the president of the United
States;

(iii) the passage or defeat of any local law, ordinance, resolution,
or regulation by any municipality or subdivision thereof;

(iv) the adoption, issuance, rescission, modification or terms of an
executive order issued by the chief executive officer of a municipality;
or

(v) the adoption or rejection of any rule, regulation, or resolution
having the force and effect of a local law, ordinance, resolution, or
regulation.

(b) Lobbying shall not include:

(i) any appearance by any person on behalf of a public utility before
a committee of either house of the state legislature or the congress of
the United States where any such appearance is at the request of any
such legislative committee;

(ii) preparing or submitting a response on behalf of a public utility
to a request for information or comments by the congress of the United
States, the president of the United States, the state legislature, the
governor, the legislative or executive body or officer of a
municipality, or a federal, state or local agency; or

(iii) applications for licenses, certificates, and permits authorized
by statutes or local laws or ordinances.

2. The cost of membership dues for any organization, association,
institution, corporation or any other entity that engages in lobbying.

3. Contributions or gifts to political candidates, political parties,
political or legislative committees or any committee or organization
working to influence referendum petitions or elections.

4. Contributions to a chamber of commerce or a charity, including but
not limited to a charity managed by the public utility. For the purposes
of this subdivision a "charity" shall mean an entity formed primarily
for charitable purposes, including but not limited to:

(a) a corporation formed under the business corporation law, the
limited liability company law, or the not-for-profit corporation law
primarily for charitable purposes;

(b) a charitable trust as defined by article eight of the estates,
powers, and trusts law; and

(c) any charitable foundation registered within the state that submits
financial disclosures to the attorney general.

5. Any direct or indirect costs associated with: (a) travel, lodging,
food, or beverage expenses that exceed the most recent federal per diem
rates published by the general services administration; (b)
entertainment or gifts; and (c) any owned, leased or chartered aircraft
for such public utility's board of directors and officers or the board
of directors and officers of such public utility's parent company.

6. Expenditures for public relations campaigns and advertising. Public
relations campaigns and advertising include expenditures relating to
information delivered to the public or to the public utility's customers
by radio, television, the internet, print and other media, or through
sponsorships, paid endorsements that bear the name of the public utility
or an organization that receives funds from a public utility, that is
primarily intended to enhance the public image of the public utility or
is intended to solicit goodwill towards the public utility and that does
not include the offer of goods or services to actual or potential
ratepayers. This subdivision does not include communications with the
person's stockholders, employees, board members, or officers.

* NB Effective January 1, 2027