S5593

The New York State Senate passed S5593, sponsored by Senator Mayer, an act to amend the Public Service Law, on a roll call vote of 44-18. The bill will take effect one year after becoming law. Eighteen senators voted in opposition: Ashby, Borrello, Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Chan, Gallivan, Helming, Murray, Oberacker, O'Mara, Ortt, Palumbo, Rhoads, Rolison, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk, Weber and Weik. No floor debate was recorded on the measure prior to the vote.

The New York State Senate passed legislation to address delays in Public Service Commission rate cases that have resulted in higher consumer utility bills. Senate Print 5593, sponsored by Sen. Mayer, extends the statutory timeframe for rate cases by three months to allow additional time for settlement negotiations between utilities, the PSC, and other parties. The bill passed 43-17 on a roll call vote. Sen. Mayer explained that prolonged rate case delays beyond the statutory 11-month suspension period have led utilities to seek retroactive make-whole provisions allowing them to recover revenues retroactively, causing rate compression that results in unexpectedly higher consumer costs. Sen. Martins voted in favor while expressing concerns that other state policies, particularly the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, are root causes of utility affordability problems. Sen. Harckham defended the CLCPA, arguing that grid modernization costs are necessary regardless of renewable energy policy and that clean energy is cheaper than fossil fuels. The bill takes effect one year after becoming law.