New York S 9199: Creates the state office of the utility consumer advocate

Bill Text

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S09199 Summary:

BILL NOS09199 

&nbsp

SAME ASSAME AS A09548

&nbsp

SPONSORSCARCELLA-SPANTON

&nbsp

COSPNSRADDABBO

&nbsp

MLTSPNSR

&nbsp

Add Art 1-A §§28-a - 28-d, Pub Serv L

&nbsp

Creates the state office of the utility consumer advocate to represent interests of residential utility customers including a proposed change of rates, charges, terms and conditions of service, the adoption of rules, regulations, guidelines, orders, standards or final policy decisions.

Go to top S09199 Actions:

BILL NOS09199 

&nbsp

02/13/2026REFERRED TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

05/28/2026COMMITTEE DISCHARGED AND COMMITTED TO RULES

05/28/2026ORDERED TO THIRD READING CAL.1398

06/04/2026PASSED SENATE

06/04/2026DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY

06/04/2026referred to consumer affairs and protection

Go to topS09199 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS09199 Floor&nbspVotes:

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

Go to topS09199 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 9199

 IN SENATE

 February 13, 2026
 ___________

 Introduced by Sen. SCARCELLA-SPANTON -- read twice and ordered printed,
 and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Energy and Tele-
 communications

 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.
 16 (d) "Utility company" means any person or entity operating an agency
 17 for public service, including, but not limited to, those persons or
 18 entities subject to the jurisdiction, supervision and regulations
 19 prescribed by or pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
 20 § 28-b. Establishment of the state office of the utility consumer
 21 advocate. There is established the state office of the utility consumer
 22 advocate to represent the interests of residential utility customers.
 23 The utility consumer advocate shall be appointed by the governor to a
 24 term of six years, upon the advice and consent of the senate. The utili-
 25 ty consumer advocate shall possess knowledge and experience in matters
 26 affecting residential utility customers and shall be responsible for the
 27 direction, control, and operation of the state office of the utility

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD05952-01-5

 S. 9199 2

 1 consumer advocate, including its hiring of staff and retention of
 2 experts for analysis and testimony in proceedings. The utility consumer
 3 advocate shall not be removed for cause, but may be removed only after
 4 notice and opportunity to be heard, and only for permanent disability,
 5 malfeasance, a felony, or conduct involving moral turpitude. Exercise of
 6 independent judgment in advocating positions on behalf of residential
 7 utility customers shall not constitute cause for removal of the utility
 8 consumer advocate.
 9 § 28-c. Powers of the state office of the utility consumer advocate.
 10 The state office of the utility consumer advocate shall have the power
 11 and duty to: (a) initiate, intervene in, or participate on behalf of
 12 residential utility customers in any proceedings before the commission,
 13 the federal energy regulatory commission, the federal communications
 14 commission, federal, state and local administrative and regulatory agen-
 15 cies, and state and federal courts in any matter or proceeding that may
 16 substantially affect the interests of residential utility customers,
 17 including, but not limited