State Senate Advances Legislation to Stand Up to Utility Corporations, Lower Rates

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Official release

Source material from New York Senate. The wording below is the issuer’s statement.

Today, the New York State Senate passed legislation to ensure utility providers act in the best interest of New York’s ratepayers. The legislation aims to equip the Public Service Commission (PSC) with resources to better evaluate the impact of utility providers’ actions on ratepayers, prevent utilities from profiting at the expense of the communities they serve. Also included is legislation that would prohibit public utilities from recovering funds from ratepayers to support certain non-operational expenses like lobbying or entertainment; authorize the PSC to consider non-economic damages when determining penalties for utilities; require utilities to return excess revenue to ratepayers; and mandate that utility providers notify ratepayers of a proposed rate hike via text, email, and/or their monthly utility bill.

Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said, “Rising utility bills have only deepened the financial strain on New Yorkers, who already pay some of the highest utility rates in the country. The Senate Majority is continuing our fight to hold utility corporations accountable and to deliver relief to consumers. We believe utilities are a necessity that every New Yorker ought to be able to afford. Today's package includes measures that would bring transparency to the ratemaking process, call for utilities to return excess revenues to ratepayers, require the PSC to consider the effect of rate changes on consumers, and set minimum standards to help eligible families pay their utility bills. I thank the bill sponsors for putting ratepayers first, and for their steadfast commitment to affordability and accountability.”

Chair of the Energy and Telecommunications Committee, Senator Kevin Parker said, “This ratepayer package is about restoring trust and bringing balance back to a system that too often asks working families to carry the weight. It sets real guardrails on utility practices, strengthens transparency, and recognizes the day-to-day realities New Yorkers face when rates rise without warning or explanation. At its core, this work is about affordability, accountability, and basic dignity making sure the essential services people rely on are governed with fairness and respect for those who pay the bills.”

Release text attributed to New York Senate. Consult the official publication for any subsequent corrections or updates.