Eliminates late fees for residential utility customers; provides that no late payment charges may be imposed on residential customers.
Impact
The proposed changes are expected to have a profound effect on residential utility customers. By removing late fees, the bill aims to prevent financial hardships that can arise from additional charges, particularly for customers who may struggle to pay their utility bills on time. This aligns with broader goals of consumer protection and access to affordable utility services, promoting fair treatment for low-income and vulnerable populations. The legislation is likely to shift financial risks onto utility providers, potentially influencing their business models and financial strategies.
Summary
Bill A07963 proposes significant amendments to New York's public service law by eliminating late payment fees for residential utility customers. Under the current framework, utility corporations and municipalities can impose late payment charges on outstanding bills. However, this bill seeks to protect residential customers from incurring additional financial penalties related to their electric or gas services, thereby alleviating some of the financial burdens they may face due to late payments.
Contention
The bill may face opposition based on concerns regarding its impact on utility companies and their financial health. Critics might argue that eliminating late fees could lead to increased operating costs for these companies, potentially resulting in changes to service quality or increased rates for all customers as utilities seek to balance their books. Additionally, there may be debates about ensuring accountability and financial responsibility among consumers, who might perceive the absence of late fees as a lack of incentive to pay bills on time.
Notable_points
Supporters of A07963 assert that the elimination of late fees is a necessary step towards fairness in utility billing practices, while opponents may raise issues regarding the potential long-term sustainability of utility services. The bill's passage will prompt discussions on how best to support utility customers without compromising the stability of service providers or the broader utility sector.
Relates to services provided to residential customers by energy service companies; provides that beginning January 1, 2024, no energy service company shall execute a new contract for generation services with any individual residential retail customer; establishes that this prohibition shall not apply to, or otherwise affect, any government body that aggregates the load of residential retail customers as part of a community choice aggregation program approved by the public service commission.
Relates to energy services companies; authorizes ESCO's to only enroll new or renew existing residential or small non-residential customers in gas or electric service if certain conditions are met.
Relates to the collection of charges for residential utility service deemed to be rent; provides that where it is alleged and established that charges for utility service to any residential tenant are deemed to be rent under the terms of any arrangement or agreement relating to rental of residential property, no recovery of possession shall be had therein.
Creates the utility consumer advocate of the Long Island office of the department of public service to advocate and to represent the interests of residential Long Island utility customers.
Creates the cell phone users' bill of rights; provides that customers be given a thirty-day trial period; provides that a customer shall not be liable for calls or messages that were not made from the customer's phone; provides that a company shall be liable to the customer for violating these provisions.
Protects residential customers from utility service shutoffs due to non-payment during summer and winter periods of extreme heat or cold; allows such utility services to be discontinued for non-payment outside such periods; requires an annual report to be submitted to the governor and legislature and posted publicly online.