Provides that the public service commission shall commence a rulemaking proceeding to set minimum requirements regarding the rights of customers with life-saving equipment that electric corporations shall adhere to at times preceding and for the duration of an electric service disruption; defines terms; makes related provisions.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A2464A
SPONSOR: Dinowitz TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public service law, in relation to customers with
life-saving equipment during a service disruption
PURPOSE:
This bill would require electric corporations to set minimum require-
ments for customers with life-saving equipment during an electric
service disruption. It would also require electric corporations to
establish a unique priority phone number, operated 24/7, in order to
provide customers with life-saving equipment information regarding elec-
tric service disruptions.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends the unconsolidated law to require the public service
commission to commence a proceeding to, in the event of an electric
service disruption, require electric corporations to provide backup
generators to customers with life-saving equipment; or provide temporary
lodging accommodations to customers with life-saving equipment; and
prioritize electric service restoration to customers with life-saving
equipment. Upon adoption, each electric corporation shall be required to
incorporate such requirements into its emergency response plan and
inform its customers of such information via posts on its website,
e-mail and bill inserts.
Section two adds a new section 65-c to public service law to require
electric corporations to establish a unique priority phone number that
shall remain in operation every day of the year for customers with life-
saving equipment. Such customers shall be able to call such number at
any time to: register as a customers who use life support systems;
receive information regarding a storm, storm-like electric emergency;
report an outage; receive updated information regarding the estimated
time of restoration; receive outage safety precautions; receive informa-
tion regarding restoration prioritization, backup generators, or compen-
sation for lodging; and receive additionally specified information.
Section three sets the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers lost power in the summer of 2020 as
a result of Tropical Storm Isaias, with many disruptions lasting multi-
ple days. Infrastructure of various utilities across multiple service
areas was affected. While thousands were left without power, the impli-
cations were life-or-death for those who rely on electricity to power
devices that keep them alive. These individuals cannot afford to go
without power. Electric corporations should be required to provide them
with a baseline level of accommodations.
This bill would require electric corporations to set minimum require-
ments for customers with life-saving equipment during an electric
service disruption. It would also require electric corporations to
establish a unique priority phone number to provide customers with life-
saving equipment information regarding electric service disruptions and
services they are entitled to.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2019-20 - A.11056 - referred to corporations, authorities and commis-
sions / S.9091 REFERRED TO RULES
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Undetermined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
2464--A
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 19, 2021
___________
Introduced by M. of A. DINOWITZ, GOTTFRIED, GALEF, D. ROSENTHAL, ZEBROW-
SKI, ABINANTI, RAMOS, SIMON, REYES, DICKENS, SOLAGES, LAVINE, FAHY,
CYMBROWITZ, GRIFFIN, THIELE, BARRON, EICHENSTEIN, ENGLEBRIGHT, OTIS,
SEAWRIGHT, ROZIC, FRONTUS, MONTESANO, DeSTEFANO, McDONOUGH -- read
once and referred to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and
Commissions -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted
as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the public service law, in relation to customers with
life-saving equipment during a service disruption
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. 1. Definitions. For purposes of this section:
2 "customer with life-saving equipment" shall have the same meaning as a
3 person living in a residence that uses a life support system as defined
4 in subdivision 12 of section 65 of the public service law.
5 2. a. The public service commission shall commence a rulemaking
6 proceeding to set minimum requirements regarding customers with life-
7 saving equipment. Such rulemaking proceeding shall establish a plan
8 that, in the event of an electric service disruption, requires electric
9 corporations to:
10 i. provide backup generators capable of powering life-saving equipment
11 to customers with life-saving equipment, including refueling or recharg-
12 ing services; or
13 ii. provide temporary lodging accommodations at a location capable of
14 powering life-saving equipment, including but not limited to compen-
15 sation for hotel rooms or hospital admissions, based on the duration of
16 the electric service disruption to customers with life-saving equipment;
17 and
18 iii. prioritize electric service restoration to customers with life-
19 saving equipment.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05773-04-1
A. 2464--A 2
1 b. Upon adoption by the commission, each electric corporation shall
2 incorporate the established minimum requirements into its emergency
3 response plan pursuant to subdivision 21 of section 66 of the public
4 service law and shall inform its customers of such information via posts
5 on its website, e-mail and bill inserts.
6 § 2. The public service law is amended by adding a new section 65-c to
7 read as follows:
8 § 65-c. Customers with life-saving equipment. 1. Definitions. For
9 purposes of this section:
10 "customer with life-saving equipment" shall have the same meaning as a
11 person living in a residence that uses a life support system as defined
12 in subdivision twelve of section sixty-five of this article.
13 2. Customers with life-saving equipment. (a) Electric corporations
14 shall establish a unique priority phone number that shall remain in
15 operation every day of the year for customers with life-saving equip-
16 ment.
17 (b)Information regarding such phone number shall be provided in bill
18 inserts, via e-mail, and posted on electric corporations' websites and
19 shall include reminders for existing customers with life-saving equip-
20 ment to call such number to ensure they are still registered with the
21 electric corporation as a customer with life-saving equipment.
22 (c) Customers with life-saving equipment shall be able to call such
23 number established by paragraph (a) of this subdivision at any time,
24 including a time preceding or during an electric service disruption to:
25 i. register with an electric corporation so as to be placed on its
26 current list of customers who use life support systems pursuant to
27 subdivision twelve of section sixty-five of this article;
28 ii. receive information or projections regarding the severity of a
29 storm, storm-like electric emergency or system emergency, if applicable;
30 iii. report an outage or receive instructions on how to report an
31 outage;
32 iv. receive updated information regarding the estimated time of resto-
33 ration, including website links to outage maps updated every thirty
34 minutes, if applicable;
35 v. receive outage safety precautions, including but not limited to:
36 storm survival without electric power, safety precautions regarding
37 electrical hazards such as downed wires and the use of portable genera-
38 tors;
39 vi. receive information regarding dry ice distribution, if applicable;
40 vii. receive information regarding power charging locations, if appli-
41 cable;
42 viii. receive information regarding cooling locations, if applicable;
43 ix. receive information regarding the claims process for spoiled food
44 and medication, if applicable;
45 x. receive potential information adopted pursuant to a rulemaking
46 proceeding commenced by the commission regarding restoration prioritiza-
47 tion, backup generators, or compensation for lodging in the event of an
48 electric service disruption for customers with life-saving equipment, if
49 applicable; and
50 xi. receive information regarding the facilitation of transportation
51 to the nearest hospital or facility that is capable of powering life-
52 saving equipment, if applicable.
53 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
