New York S 9933: Relates to settlement negotiations in major electric, natural gas, water, and steam rate increase proceedings before the public service commission

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S09933 Summary:

BILL NOS09933 

&nbsp

SAME ASSAME AS A11462

&nbsp

SPONSORCOMRIE

&nbsp

COSPNSRMAYER

&nbsp

MLTSPNSR

&nbsp

Amd §§66, 80 & 89-c, Pub Serv L

&nbsp

Requires the department of public service to assign an administrative law judge to preside over all rate case settlement negotiations.

Go to top S09933 Actions:

BILL NOS09933 

&nbsp

04/16/2026REFERRED TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Go to topS09933 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS09933 Floor&nbspVotes:

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

Go to topS09933 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 9933

 IN SENATE

 April 16, 2026
 ___________

 Introduced by Sen. COMRIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
 printed to be committed to the Committee on Energy and Telecommuni-
 cations

 AN ACT to amend the public service law, in relation to requiring an
 administrative law judge to oversee the settlement negotiation process
 in major electric, natural gas, water, and steam rate increase
 proceedings before the public service commission

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. Section 66 of the public service law is amended by adding a
 2 new subdivision 33 to read as follows:
 3 33. (a) In any rate proceeding, upon the utility filing of a notice of
 4 impending negotiations pursuant to the department's rules and regu-
 5 lations, the department shall assign an administrative law judge or
 6 judges who have received training in mediation and facilitation from an
 7 organization certified to provide such training to preside over the
 8 settlement process. The settlement administrative law judge or judges
 9 shall preside over all rate case settlement negotiations for the purpose
 10 of ensuring an orderly, consistent, fair, and efficient process by
 11 establishing structure for the negotiations, reducing impediments to
 12 participation, and encouraging open communication. Among the tasks the
 13 judge or judges shall perform are coordinating scheduling and facilitat-
 14 ing meetings. The judge or judges shall oversee the settlement process
 15 in a consistent and predictable manner so that the process itself is
 16 similar for each rate proceeding and not dependent on the individual
 17 judge or judges assigned. To ensure consistency in the process, the
 18 department shall create and share public standards explaining how the
 19 settlement process shall be organized and administered. At the request
 20 of any party, the judge or judges may function as a mediator in regard
 21 to any particular topic unless another party that is concerned about the
 22 same topic objects.
 23 (b) As used in this subdivision, the following terms shall have the
 24 following meanings:

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD15469-01-6

 S. 9933 2

 1 (i) "Settlement administrative law judge" or "judge" shall mean an
 2 administrative law judge assigned by the department to oversee settle-
 3 ment negotiations instituted by the utility filing of impending negoti-
 4 ations pursuant to the department's rules and regulations.
 5 (ii) "Settlement process" shall mean a set of formal negotiations of
 6 the parties organized by the department that is intended to resolve all
 7 or some of the issues in any rate proceeding and lead to a joint
 8 proposal.
 9 (iii) "Joint proposal" shall mean a negotiated settlement agreement
 10 signed by two or more parties in a rate proceeding.
 11 § 2. Section 80 of the public service law is amended by adding a new
 12 subdivision 13 to read as follows:
 13 13. (a) In any rate proceeding, upon the utility filing of a notice of
 14 impending negotiations pursuant to the department's rules and regu-
 15 lations, the department shall assign an administrative law judge or
 16 judges who have received training in mediation and facilitation from an
 17 organization certified to provide such training to preside over the
 18 settlement process. The settlement administrative law judge or judges
 19 shall preside over all rate case settlement negotiations for the purpose
 20 of ensuring an orderly, consistent, fair, and efficient process by
 21 estab