Senate energy committee advances slate of bills after debate over EV infrastructure cost shift and battery safety concerns

The New York State Senate Committee on Energy and Telecommunications, chaired by State Senator Kevin Parker, advanced a package of energy-related bills after members debated whether to shift some costs for electric vehicle charging infrastructure to ratepayers and raised concerns about battery storage safety and other energy delivery issues.

The most contested item was bill number 98 (sponsor: Senator Conry), which would amend the Public Service Law to treat some "make-ready" electrical infrastructure costs for EV charging as recoverable through utility rates in certain areas. Committee members debated how much of those costs would be borne by utilities and by private developers and how the rule would apply in and around disadvantaged communities. After discussion the committee moved the bill forward to a third reading; the record shows at least one member registered a "without recommendation" and two members voted "no."

Why it matters: the bill changes who pays to prepare utility connections for EV chargers, a policy decision that affects developers, utilities and ratepayers and could influence where charging stations are deployed.

Committee members also approved several study and program bills. Bill 1227 (sponsor: Senator May) would authorize the Public Service Commission (PSC) to study interconnection procedures and timelines to speed deployment of generation into the grid. Senator Wilson asked why the PSC, rather than NYSERDA, was assigned the study; staff and members said the PSC normally handles utility-level interconnection rules. The bill was moved to third reading with one recorded "no" vote.

Bill 1549 (sponsor: Senator Parker) would direct the PSC to establish a program for "net zero emissions" energy systems and give the PSC discretion to design incentives. Committee members asked what incentives would be available; the measure leaves incentive design to PSC rulemaking. The committee moved the bill and sent it to the finance committee for further review.

The committee also took up a previously vetoed measure (bill 2011, sponsor: Senator Parker) that would direct the Department of State and PSC to study the practice of utilities and communications providers reporting late payments or defaults to consumer credit agencies; members discussed the bill's earlier veto and whether circumstances have changed. That bill was moved to finance with members saying they hope the executive branch will not veto it again.

Other bills advanced or referred to finance included measures on revolving loan funds for NYCHA microgrids (bill 1331, sponsor: Senator Parker), penalties under the Public Service Law (bill 1721, sponsor: Senator Hinchey), an alternative-fuels availability requirement along the Thruway (bill 2183a, sponsor: Senator Parker), and a floating solar incentive program (bill 4571, sponsor: Senator Hartman). Several bills passed with one or two "no" votes or members recorded "without recommendation." Detailed outcomes for each bill are listed below.

Committee members concluded the calendar and a number of senators used the committee floor to raise broader policy concerns. One senator raised long-standing concerns about liquefied gas being trucked into the state and described compression and cold-storage practices on roadways; committee members said the committee's primary levers are to improve renewable generation, interconnection and transmission. Several members debated the role and safety of large-scale battery storage, with one senator calling current deployment an "experiment" and raising cost concerns and others noting the technology and safety standards for large-scale systems differ from consumer batteries.

What’s next: the bills advanced to either third reading or the Senate Finance Committee for fiscal review as noted below. The PSC and other state agencies were identified in committee testimony and discussion as the agencies that would carry out studies or implement programs under several bills.