New York S 1846: Requires utility companies to reimburse consumers in the event of a prolonged power outage

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 Speaker Carl E. Heastie

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S01846 Summary:

BILL NOS01846 

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SAME ASSAME AS A04232

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SPONSORCOMRIE

&nbsp

COSPNSRADDABBO, HARCKHAM, HINCHEY, OBERACKER

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MLTSPNSR

&nbsp

Add §77-a, Pub Serv L

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Requires utility companies to reimburse consumers for spoilage of food and medication due to the lack of refrigeration in the event of a power outage lasting seventy-two hours or more.

Go to top S01846 Actions:

BILL NOS01846 

&nbsp

01/14/2025REFERRED TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

02/11/20251ST REPORT CAL.337

02/12/20252ND REPORT CAL.

02/24/2025ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 

06/13/2025COMMITTED TO RULES

01/07/2026REFERRED TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Go to topS01846 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS01846 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topS01846 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 1846

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN SENATE

 January 14, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by Sens. COMRIE, ADDABBO, HARCKHAM, HINCHEY -- read twice and
 ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on
 Energy and Telecommunications

 AN ACT to amend the public service law, in relation to requiring utility
 companies to reimburse consumers in the event of a prolonged power
 outage

 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 section
 2 77-a to read as follows:
 3 § 77-a. Utility reimbursement requirements. 1. In the event that a
 4 residential utility customer or small business customer experiences a
 5 widespread prolonged outage lasting at least seventy-two consecutive
 6 hours or more without having been resolved by the utility company, the
 7 utility company shall:
 8 (a) Provide reimbursement of any food spoiled due to lack of refriger-
 9 ation. Residential utility customers shall provide the utility company
 10 an itemized list of all food spoiled or proof of loss of food spoiled
 11 within fourteen days of the outage. The utility company shall reimburse
 12 the customer within thirty days of the receipt of the itemized list or
 13 proof of loss. The amount of the reimbursement shall not exceed a total
 14 of two hundred thirty-five dollars for customers who provide an itemized
 15 list. The amount of the reimbursement for customers who provide proof of
 16 loss shall not exceed five hundred forty dollars.
 17 (b) Provide reimbursement of prescription medication spoiled due to
 18 lack of refrigeration. Residential utility customers shall provide the
 19 utility company with an itemized list and proof of loss of prescription
 20 medication due to lack of refrigeration within fourteen days of the
 21 outage. The utility company shall reimburse the customer within thirty
 22 days of the receipt of the itemized list and proof of loss of

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD05137-01-5

 S. 1846 2

 1 prescription medication. The amount of the reimbursement shall total no
 2 more than the actual loss of perishable prescription medicine.
 3 (c) Provide reimbursement to small business customers for any food
 4 spoiled due to lack of refrigeration. Small business customers shall
 5 provide the utility company with an itemized list for all food spoiled
 6 and proof of loss within fourteen days of the outage. The utility compa-
 7 ny shall reimburse the small business customer within thirty days of the
 8 receipt of the itemized list and proof of loss. The amount of the
 9 reimbursement shall total no more than ten thousand seven hundred
 10 dollars.
 11 2. The department shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to
 12 implement the provisions of this section. Such rules and regulations
 13 shall define the terms "widespread prolonged outage", "small business
 14 customer" and "proof of loss".
 15 § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
 16 it shall have become a law.

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