- Summary
- Actions
- Committee Votes
- Floor Votes
- Memo
- Text
A00180 Summary:
BILL NO | A00180A |
  | |
SAME AS | SAME AS S03356-A |
  | |
SPONSOR | Dinowitz |
  | |
COSPNSR | Paulin, Brennan, Gottfried, Rosenthal, Zebrowski, Skoufis, Crespo, Robinson, Markey, Weprin, Jaffee, Galef, Cahill, Colton, Lifton, Abinanti, Hevesi, Cook, Stirpe, Steck, Skartados, Lupardo, Mayer, Gunther, Mosley, Ortiz, Brindisi, Perry, Sepulveda, McDonald, Kearns, Raia, Montesano, Santabarbara, Simotas, Jean-Pierre, Miller, Hooper, Arroyo, Joyner, Fahy, Otis, Peoples-Stokes, Hunter, Linares, Lavine, Barrett, Seawright |
  | |
MLTSPNSR | Englebright, Glick, Murray, Rivera, Schimel, Simanowitz, Simon, Thiele |
  | |
Add Art 1-A §§28-a - 28-d, Pub Serv L | |
  | |
Creates the state office of the utility consumer advocate to represent interests of residential utility customers. |
A00180 Actions:
BILL NO | A00180A | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
01/07/2015 | referred to consumer affairs and protection | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
02/10/2015 | reported referred to ways and means | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
06/02/2015 | reported referred to rules | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
06/08/2015 | reported | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
06/08/2015 | rules report cal.43 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
06/08/2015 | ordered to third reading rules cal.43 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
06/10/2015 | passed assembly | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
06/10/2015 | delivered to senate | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
06/10/2015 | REFERRED TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
01/06/2016 | DIED IN SENATE | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
01/06/2016 | RETURNED TO ASSEMBLY | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
01/06/2016 | ordered to third reading cal.13 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
01/12/2016 | amended on third reading 180a | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
05/11/2016 | passed assembly | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
05/11/2016 | delivered to senate | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
05/11/2016 | REFERRED TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS |
A00180 Floor Votes:
Yes
Abbate
No
Corwin
No
Goodell
Yes
Lupardo
Yes
Paulin
Yes
Silver
Yes
Abinanti
ER
Crespo
Yes
Gottfried
Yes
Lupinacci
Yes
Peoples-Stokes
Yes
Simanowitz
ER
Arroyo
No
Crouch
Yes
Graf
Yes
Magee
Yes
Perry
Yes
Simon
Yes
Aubry
Yes
Curran
Yes
Gunther
Yes
Magnarelli
Yes
Persaud
Yes
Simotas
No
Barclay
No
Cusick
No
Hawley
No
Malliotakis
Yes
Pichardo
Yes
Skartados
Yes
Barrett
Yes
Cymbrowitz
Yes
Hevesi
Yes
Markey
Yes
Pretlow
Yes
Skoufis
Yes
Barron
Yes
Davila
Yes
Hikind
Yes
Mayer
Yes
Quart
Yes
Solages
Yes
Benedetto
Yes
DenDekker
Yes
Hooper
Yes
McDonald
Yes
Ra
No
Stec
Yes
Bichotte
Yes
Dilan
Yes
Jaffee
No
McDonough
Yes
Raia
Yes
Steck
Yes
Blake
Yes
Dinowitz
Yes
Jean-Pierre
No
McKevitt
Yes
Ramos
Yes
Stirpe
No
Blankenbush
No
DiPietro
No
Johns
Yes
McLaughlin
Yes
Richardson
Yes
Tedisco
No
Borelli
Yes
Duprey
Yes
Joyner
Yes
Miller
ER
Rivera
Yes
Tenney
ER
Brabenec
Yes
Englebright
Yes
Kaminsky
Yes
Montesano
Yes
Roberts
Yes
Thiele
Yes
Braunstein
Yes
Fahy
No
Katz
Yes
Morelle
ER
Robinson
Yes
Titone
Yes
Brennan
Yes
Farrell
Yes
Kavanagh
Yes
Mosley
Yes
Rodriguez
Yes
Titus
ER
Brindisi
No
Finch
Yes
Kearns
Yes
Moya
Yes
Rosenthal
Yes
Walker
Yes
Bronson
No
Fitzpatrick
Yes
Kim
Yes
Murray
Yes
Rozic
Yes
Walter
Yes
Brook-Krasny
No
Friend
No
Kolb
No
Nojay
Yes
Russell
Yes
Weinstein
Yes
Buchwald
Yes
Galef
No
Lalor
Yes
Nolan
Yes
Ryan
Yes
Weprin
Yes
Butler
Yes
Gantt
Yes
Lavine
No
Oaks
Yes
Saladino
Yes
Woerner
Yes
Cahill
Yes
Garbarino
No
Lawrence
Yes
O'Donnell
Yes
Santabarbara
Yes
Wozniak
Yes
Ceretto
Yes
Giglio
Yes
Lentol
Yes
Ortiz
Yes
Schimel
Yes
Wright
Yes
Clark
Yes
Gjonaj
Yes
Lifton
Yes
Otis
Yes
Schimminger
Yes
Zebrowski
Yes
Colton
Yes
Glick
Yes
Linares
No
Palmesano
Yes
Seawright
Yes
Mr. Speaker
Yes
Cook
Yes
Goldfeder
Yes
Lopez
Yes
Palumbo
Yes
Sepulveda
‡ Indicates voting via videoconference
ER
Abbate
Yes
Crespo
Yes
Gottfried
Yes
Lopez
Yes
Palumbo
Yes
Simon
Yes
Abinanti
No
Crouch
No
Graf
Yes
Lupardo
Yes
Paulin
Yes
Simotas
ER
Arroyo
Yes
Curran
Yes
Gunther
Yes
Lupinacci
Yes
Peoples-Stokes
Yes
Skartados
Yes
Aubry
No
Cusick
ER
Harris
Yes
Magee
Yes
Perry
Yes
Skoufis
No
Barclay
Yes
Cymbrowitz
No
Hawley
Yes
Magnarelli
Yes
Pichardo
Yes
Solages
Yes
Barrett
Yes
Davila
Yes
Hevesi
No
Malliotakis
Yes
Pretlow
No
Stec
Yes
Barron
ER
DenDekker
ER
Hikind
Yes
Markey
Yes
Quart
Yes
Steck
Yes
Benedetto
Yes
Dilan
ER
Hooper
Yes
Mayer
Yes
Ra
Yes
Stirpe
Yes
Bichotte
Yes
Dinowitz
Yes
Hunter
Yes
McDonald
Yes
Raia
Yes
Tedisco
Yes
Blake
No
DiPietro
Yes
Hyndman
ER
McDonough
Yes
Ramos
No
Tenney
No
Blankenbush
No
Duprey
Yes
Jaffee
No
McKevitt
Yes
Richardson
Yes
Thiele
Yes
Brabenec
Yes
Englebright
Yes
Jean-Pierre
No
McLaughlin
Yes
Rivera
Yes
Titone
Yes
Braunstein
Yes
Fahy
No
Johns
Yes
Miller
Yes
Robinson
Yes
Titus
Yes
Brennan
Yes
Farrell
Yes
Joyner
ER
Montesano
Yes
Rodriguez
Yes
Walker
Yes
Brindisi
No
Finch
ER
Katz
Yes
Morelle
Yes
Rosenthal
Yes
Walter
Yes
Bronson
No
Fitzpatrick
Yes
Kavanagh
Yes
Mosley
Yes
Rozic
Yes
Weinstein
Yes
Buchwald
ER
Friend
ER
Kearns
Yes
Moya
Yes
Russell
Yes
Weprin
ER
Butler
Yes
Galef
Yes
Kim
Yes
Murray
Yes
Ryan
Yes
Williams
Yes
Cahill
ER
Gantt
ER
Kolb
ER
Nojay
ER
Saladino
Yes
Woerner
Yes
Cancel
ER
Garbarino
No
Lalor
Yes
Nolan
Yes
Santabarbara
No
Wozniak
No
Castorina
No
Giglio
Yes
Lavine
No
Oaks
Yes
Schimel
Yes
Wright
Yes
Ceretto
ER
Gjonaj
No
Lawrence
Yes
O'Donnell
Yes
Schimminger
Yes
Zebrowski
Yes
Colton
Yes
Glick
Yes
Lentol
Yes
Ortiz
Yes
Seawright
Yes
Mr. Speaker
Yes
Cook
Yes
Goldfeder
Yes
Lifton
Yes
Otis
Yes
Sepulveda
No
Corwin
No
Goodell
Yes
Linares
No
Palmesano
ER
Simanowitz
‡ Indicates voting via videoconference
A00180 Memo:
Go to topNEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY
MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION
submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)   BILL NUMBER: A180A SPONSOR: Dinowitz (MS)
  TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the public service law, in relation to creating the state office of the utility consumer advocate   PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL: This bill would create the State Office of the Utility Consumer Advocate to represent residential utility consumers' interests in residential utility matters at the state and federal level.   SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS: Section 1 amends the public service law by adding a new article 1-A that would establish the state Office of the Utility Consumer Advocate (UCA). The UCA will be appointed by the governor to a six year term. The section also outlines the qualifications required for such an appointee and his or her responsibilities as the UCA, including the operation of the office. The section outlines the powers of the office of the UCA, which include initiating, intervening, and participating on behalf of residential utility consumers in any proceedings before the Public Service Commis- sion, the Federal Regulatory Energy Commission, the Federal Communi- cations Commission, state and local administrative and regulatory agen- cies, and state and federal courts in any matter or proceeding that may substantially affect the interests of residential utility customers. The section also allows for the UCA to exercise and have independence in any and all actions of the office. The new section also requires an annual report from the office of the UCA to the governor and legislature as, which would be made available to the public, and would that will include information on all proceedings that the office of the UCA participated in and the outcome of such proceedings. Additionally, the report shall include estimated savings to residential utility customers that resulted from intervention by the UCA, and lastly any policy recommendations and suggested statutory amendments that the UCA deems necessary. Section 2 sets the effective date.   JUSTIFICATION: Currently more than 40 states and the District of Columbia have an inde- pendent state agency that represents the interests of residential utili- ty customers. New York is one of few states, and by far the largest, without such an independent office. In the wake of Superstorm Sandy, Hurricane Irene, and Tropical Storm Lee, consumers in New York have been left without a voice and real representation when it comes to utility services. This bill would create the State Office of the Utility Consumer Advocate to serve as an independent advocate and appear on behalf of New York consumers in state and federal regulatory proceedings, as well as judi- cial review proceedings concerning rates and conditions of public service utilities. Currently consumers in New York are represented by the Public Service Commission as well as the Utility Intervention Unit, a division of the Department of State. Neither of them is able to act solely on behalf of the interest of consumers. The Public Service Commission mediates the competing interests of utili- ties and others in their proceedings to develop facts upon which their decisions are ultimately based. The utility providers as well as large commercial and industrial customers have an active and able presence in such proceedings; however there is a glaring lack of input from any parties representing consumers. The Utility Intervention Unit operates under the direction of the Secretary of the State, who has created a non-statutory subordinate at-will position for the Director of the Util- ity Intervention Unit. The Utility Consumer Advocate would be appointed by the Governor, subject to Senate confirmation, and would serve a term of six years similar to the Chairman of the Public Service Commission. Therefore the Utility Consumer Advocate would not be an at-will employee subject to removal without cause by the Secretary of State or Governor. This would allow for actual independent action on behalf of residential consumers without the concern of removal for such action. In other states where such an office exists residential consumers have seen drastic savings in comparison to the actual amount of funding that goes to these offices. California's Division of Ratepayer Advocates lobbied over 200 times on behalf of California consumers and saved them over $4 billion in rates saved and increases avoided; in fact, they estimate that for every $1 spent representing and advocating on behalf of California's public utility customers, the average customer saved $153 per year. The creation of an appointed advocate with the powers allotted in this bill would give New York utility customers a voice at the table, save them a considerable amount of money when it comes to the utilities they use every day.   PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 2013-14: A.6239-B - Passed Assembly/S.4550-B - Referred to Finance   FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: None to the State.   EFFECTIVE DATE: This act shall take effect of the first of April next succeeding the date on which it shall have become law.
A00180 Text:
Go to top STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 180--A Cal. No. 13 2015-2016 Regular Sessions IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled) January 7, 2015 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. DINOWITZ, PAULIN, BRENNAN, GOTTFRIED, ROSENTHAL, ZEBROWSKI, SKOUFIS, CRESPO, ROBINSON, MARKEY, WEPRIN, JAFFEE, GALEF, CAHILL, COLTON, LIFTON, ABINANTI, HEVESI, COOK, STIRPE, STECK, SKARTA- DOS, LUPARDO, MAYER, GUNTHER, MOSLEY, ORTIZ, BRINDISI, PERRY, SEPULVE- DA, McDONALD, KEARNS, RAIA, MONTESANO, SANTABARBARA, SIMOTAS, JEAN-PIERRE, MILLER, HOOPER, ARROYO, JOYNER, FAHY, OTIS, KAMINSKY, PEOPLES-STOKES, HUNTER -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. CLARK, ENGLE- BRIGHT, GLICK, MURRAY, RIVERA, SCHIMEL, SIMANOWITZ, SIMON, THIELE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection -- advanced to a third reading, amended and ordered reprinted, retaining its place on the order of third reading AN ACT to amend the public service law, in relation to creating the state office of the utility consumer advocate The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The public service law is amended by adding a new article 2 1-A to read as follows: 3 ARTICLE 1-A 4 THE STATE OFFICE OF THE UTILITY CONSUMER ADVOCATE 5 Section 28-a. Definitions. 6 28-b. Establishment of the state office of the utility consumer 7 advocate. 8 28-c. Powers of the state office of the utility consumer advo- 9 cate. 10 28-d. Reports. 11 § 28-a. Definitions. When used in this article: (a) "Department" 12 means the department of public service. 13 (b) "Commission" means the public service commission. 14 (c) "Residential utility customer" means any person who is sold or 15 offered for sale residential utility service by a utility company. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD01827-02-6A. 180--A 2 1 (d) "Utility company" means any person or entity operating an agency 2 for public service, including, but not limited to, those persons or 3 entities subject to the jurisdiction, supervision and regulations 4 prescribed by or pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. 5 § 28-b. Establishment of the state office of the utility consumer 6 advocate. There is established the state office of the utility consumer 7 advocate to represent the interests of residential utility customers. 8 The utility consumer advocate shall be appointed by the governor to a 9 term of six years, upon the advice and consent of the senate. The utili- 10 ty consumer advocate shall possess knowledge and experience in matters 11 affecting residential utility customers and shall be responsible for the 12 direction, control, and operation of the state office of the utility 13 consumer advocate, including its hiring of staff and retention of 14 experts for analysis and testimony in proceedings. The utility consumer 15 advocate shall not be removed for cause, but may be removed only after 16 notice and opportunity to be heard, and only for permanent disability, 17 malfeasance, a felony, or conduct involving moral turpitude. Exercise of 18 independent judgment in advocating positions on behalf of residential 19 utility customers shall not constitute cause for removal of the utility 20 consumer advocate. 21 § 28-c. Powers of the state office of the utility consumer advocate. 22 The state office of the utility consumer advocate shall have the power 23 and duty to: (a) initiate, intervene in, or participate on behalf of 24 residential utility customers in any proceedings before the commission, 25 the federal energy regulatory commission, the federal communications 26 commission, federal, state and local administrative and regulatory agen- 27 cies, and state and federal courts in any matter or proceeding that may 28 substantially affect the interests of residential utility customers, 29 including, but not limited to, a proposed change of rates, charges, 30 terms and conditions of service, the adoption of rules, regulations, 31 guidelines, orders, standards or final policy decisions where the utili- 32 ty consumer advocate deems such initiation, intervention or partic- 33 ipation to be necessary or appropriate; 34 (b) represent the interests of residential utility customers of the 35 state before federal, state and local administrative and regulatory 36 agencies engaged in the regulation of energy, telecommunications, water, 37 and other utility services, and before state and federal courts in 38 actions and proceedings to review the actions of utilities or orders of 39 utility regulatory agencies. Any action or proceeding brought by the 40 utility consumer advocate before a court or an agency shall be brought 41 in the name of the state office of the utility consumer advocate. The 42 utility consumer advocate may join with a residential utility customer 43 or group of residential utility customers in bringing an action; 44 (c) (i) in addition to any other authority conferred upon the utility 45 consumer advocate, he or she is authorized, and it shall be his or her 46 duty to represent the interests of residential utility customers as a 47 party, or otherwise participate for the purpose of representing the 48 interests of such customers before any agencies or courts. He or she may 49 initiate proceedings if in his or her judgment doing so may be necessary 50 in connection with any matter involving the actions or regulation of 51 public utility companies whether on appeal or otherwise initiated. The 52 utility consumer advocate may monitor all cases before regulatory agen- 53 cies in the United States, including the federal communications commis- 54 sion and the federal energy regulatory commission that affect the inter- 55 ests of residential utility customers of the state and may formallyA. 180--A 3 1 participate in those proceedings which in his or her judgment warrants 2 such participation. 3 (ii) the utility consumer advocate shall exercise his or her independ- 4 ent discretion in determining the interests of residential utility 5 customers that will be advocated in any proceeding, and determining 6 whether to participate in or initiate any proceeding and, in so deter- 7 mining, shall consider the public interest, the resources available, and 8 the substantiality of the effect of the proceeding on the interest of 9 residential utility customers; 10 (d) request and receive from any state or local authority, agency, 11 department or division of the state or political subdivision such 12 assistance, personnel, information, books, records, other documentation 13 and cooperation necessary to perform its duties; and 14 (e) enter into cooperative agreements with other government offices to 15 efficiently carry out its work. 16 § 28-d. Reports. On July first, two thousand seventeen and annually 17 thereafter, the state office of the utility consumer advocate shall 18 issue a report to the governor and the legislature, and make such report 19 available to the public free of charge on a publicly available website, 20 containing, but not limited to, the following information: 21 (a) all proceedings that the state office of the utility consumer 22 advocate participated in and the outcome of such proceedings, to the 23 extent of such outcome and if not confidential; 24 (b) estimated savings to residential utility consumers that resulted 25 from intervention by the state office of the utility consumer advocate; 26 and 27 (c) policy recommendations and suggested statutory amendments that the 28 state office of the utility consumer advocate deems necessary. 29 § 2. This act shall take effect on the first of April next succeeding 30 the date on which it shall have become a law.