Authorizes the secretary of state to appoint a person from the utility intervention unit within the consumer protection division to serve on the state energy planning board.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A7069
SPONSOR: Barrett TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the energy law, in relation to the
composition of the state energy planning board
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
The bill will restore consumer representation on the State Energy Plan-
ning Board.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Amends subdivision 1 of section 6-102 of the energy law, directing the
Secretary of State to appoint a representative from the Consumer
Protection Division's Utility Intervention Unit to serve on the State
Energy Planning Board.
JUSTIFICATION:
Over the past 15 years there has been a steep decline in state and inde-
pendent resources dedicated to consumer advocacy. New York used to have
robust network of state and not-for-profit entities whose mission Was to
stand up for the interests of residents, small businesses and low-income
families when it came to energy matters. In 1994, the Consumer
Protection Board had 31 staff people dedicated to utility intervention.
There were also independent advocates like the Citizens' Utility Board
and the Public Utility Law Project. Since that time, while the industry
has been deregulated creating a complicated and , confusing marketplace,
those important groups have been dissolved and de-funded leaving the
average citizen without a voice.
The Consumer Protection Board was eliminated in 2012. The Utility Inter-
vention Unit was transferred to the Department of State. However, their
seat on the State Energy Planning Board was not included in the new
statute. This legislation will restore their representation on the Board
ensuring the considerations of consumer interests are included in the
State Energy plan.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
06/06/2012 referred to energy
06/12/2012 reported referred to rules
06/14/2012 reported
06/14/2012 rules report cal.275
06/14/2012 ordered to third reading rules cal.275
06/18/2012 passed assembly
06/18/2012 delivered to senate
06/18/2012 REFERRED TO RULES
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
7069
2013-2014 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
May 1, 2013
___________
Introduced by M. of A. BARRETT -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Energy
AN ACT to amend the energy law, in relation to the composition of the
state energy planning board
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 6-102 of the energy law, as
2 amended by chapter 195 of the laws of 2011, is amended to read as
3 follows:
4 1. There shall be established a state energy planning board, herein-
5 after referred to as the "board", which shall consist of the chair of
6 the public service commission, the commissioner of environmental conser-
7 vation, the commissioner of economic development, the commissioner of
8 transportation, the commissioner of labor, the commissioner of the divi-
9 sion of homeland security and emergency services, the commissioner of
10 agriculture and markets, the commissioner of health, the secretary of
11 state and the president of the New York state energy research and devel-
12 opment authority. The governor, the speaker of the assembly and the
13 temporary president of the senate shall each appoint one additional
14 representative to serve on the board; in addition, the secretary of
15 state shall appoint, from the utility intervention unit with the consum-
16 er protection division established in section ninety-four-a of the exec-
17 utive law, an additional person to serve on the board. The presiding
18 officer of the federally designated electric bulk system operator (BSO)
19 shall serve as a non-voting member of the board. Any decision or action
20 by the board shall be by majority vote. The president of the New York
21 state energy research and development authority shall serve as chair of
22 the board. Members of the board may designate an executive staff repre-
23 sentative to participate on the board on their behalf.
24 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10593-01-3
