Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski (D-New City) announced that the NYS Assembly recently passed his water cost index legislation (A.7183A). This bill would, for the first time, establish a water cost index. This uniform system of measurement would be developed by the Public Service Commission (PSC) to calculate average usage. Public and private water systems would be required to calculate and submit their water cost index to the PSC so that consumers can accurately analyze costs across companies and systems. Customers are often left in the dark and are unable to compare their water costs to different systems in New York. When companies apply to the PSC for a rate increase, customers are unable to analyze the most basic information: how does this system’s rates compare to others?

“Consumers deserve to know how much their water costs in comparison to the other systems across the State. Developing this uniform standard will provide increased transparency and allow customers to analyze their water system’s efficacy,” said Assemblyman Zebrowski.

The legislation directs the Public Service Commission to develop a water cost index calculation based on uniform consumption factors. For example, the PSC would provide a set of factors to ascertain average use including usage, fees, applicable taxes, meter size, or seasonal rate structures. Water works corporations and municipal water systems serving over 1,000 customers would be required to annually submit the water cost index to the PSC. Using the calculations provided by the commission, water systems must submit the information within 60 days of the close of their fiscal year to the State. The PSC will then publish an annual report with the findings and an analysis of data on their website by December 31st of each year.

“Water is a necessity, but not something that has a uniform price across different markets. The cost of water varies so greatly throughout the state and customers are left in the dark regarding where they stand in comparison to others. Directing the PSC to collect this data and post it publicly will allow every citizen to analyze costs and evaluate proposed rate increases,” concluded Zebrowski.

The bill is currently in the Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee.