Legislation
SECTION 66-X
Energy affordability index
Public Service (PBS) CHAPTER 48, ARTICLE 4
* § 66-x. Energy affordability index. 1. (a) Beginning January first,
two thousand twenty-seven, the commission shall require each gas
corporation, electric corporation, or combination gas and electric
corporation to submit an annual affordability index showing the energy
burden of such corporation's residential customers.
(b) The commission shall promulgate rules and regulations adopting a
methodology for gas corporations, electric corporations and combination
gas and electric corporations to calculate an affordability index. The
methodology may include the consideration of a variety of factors
including differentiated income tiers, sources of energy burden, energy
cost drivers in the relevant service territory, and such other factors
as the commission may determine, and shall to the maximum extent
practicable, use publicly available data.
2. On or before July first, two thousand twenty-seven, and annually
thereafter, the commission shall issue a report on energy affordability
that includes a comparison of the affordability of residential utility
service provided by each gas corporation, electric corporation, and
combination gas and electric corporation in New York state to
affordability data from other states as reported by the United States
energy information administration.
3. The commission may refer to such report, including information
obtained from the filings of affordability indices in accordance with
subdivision one of this section and paragraph (q) of subdivision twelve
of section sixty-six of this article, and information obtained from
reports of affordability monitors and investigations of gas
corporations, electric corporations, and combination gas and electric
corporations pursuant to subdivision thirty-three of section sixty-six
of this article when reviewing filings for major changes in rates, and
shall further consider the ratepayer affordability of such filing, with
a focus on cumulative rate impacts, the interest of low- and
middle-income utility customers, and minimizing residential energy
burden. The commission shall, in each order approving a major change in
rates for a gas corporation, electric corporation, or combination gas
and electric corporation explain how such information impacted its
determination, and include a written summary of the specific actions
taken by the commission or department during the hearing to promote
ratepayer affordability.
* NB Effective January 1, 2027
two thousand twenty-seven, the commission shall require each gas
corporation, electric corporation, or combination gas and electric
corporation to submit an annual affordability index showing the energy
burden of such corporation's residential customers.
(b) The commission shall promulgate rules and regulations adopting a
methodology for gas corporations, electric corporations and combination
gas and electric corporations to calculate an affordability index. The
methodology may include the consideration of a variety of factors
including differentiated income tiers, sources of energy burden, energy
cost drivers in the relevant service territory, and such other factors
as the commission may determine, and shall to the maximum extent
practicable, use publicly available data.
2. On or before July first, two thousand twenty-seven, and annually
thereafter, the commission shall issue a report on energy affordability
that includes a comparison of the affordability of residential utility
service provided by each gas corporation, electric corporation, and
combination gas and electric corporation in New York state to
affordability data from other states as reported by the United States
energy information administration.
3. The commission may refer to such report, including information
obtained from the filings of affordability indices in accordance with
subdivision one of this section and paragraph (q) of subdivision twelve
of section sixty-six of this article, and information obtained from
reports of affordability monitors and investigations of gas
corporations, electric corporations, and combination gas and electric
corporations pursuant to subdivision thirty-three of section sixty-six
of this article when reviewing filings for major changes in rates, and
shall further consider the ratepayer affordability of such filing, with
a focus on cumulative rate impacts, the interest of low- and
middle-income utility customers, and minimizing residential energy
burden. The commission shall, in each order approving a major change in
rates for a gas corporation, electric corporation, or combination gas
and electric corporation explain how such information impacted its
determination, and include a written summary of the specific actions
taken by the commission or department during the hearing to promote
ratepayer affordability.
* NB Effective January 1, 2027