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Senate adds mental‑anguish standard to PSC penalty considerations in utility package; measure passes
Summary
The State Senate voted to allow the Public Service Commission to consider "pain and suffering" and "mental anguish" when setting penalties in utility investigations, part of a broader utility package. Sponsors said the change responds to egregious utility misconduct; opponents warned of hidden costs to ratepayers. The measure passed 40–20.
The New York State Senate voted on Wednesday to amend the Public Service Law to permit the Public Service Commission (PSC) to consider non‑economic harms — including “pain and suffering” and “mental anguish” — when imposing penalties on utilities found to have engaged in egregious conduct.
Sponsor Senator Hinchey said the change would give the PSC an extra tool in investigations, citing billing failures in the Hudson Valley that caused severe hardship for customers. “We had constituents… contemplating things like suicide,” Hinchey said during floor questions, and added that the amendment is intended as a discretionary remedy the PSC may use in cases of acute harm.
The measure was debated alongside a broader…
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