Senate Energy and Telecommunications committee advances multiple energy bills to further review

State Senator Kevin Parker, chair of the Senate Committee on Energy and Telecommunications, presided as the committee advanced a package of bills on utilities, electric-vehicle charging infrastructure, interconnection studies, water-cost reporting and several energy programs to further legislative review.

The committee formally moved most bills to either third reading or to the Senate Finance Committee. Several measures recorded one or two dissenting votes or “without recommendation” notations at committee, as recorded during the hearing.

Key bills moved and committee actions

- Bill 98 (sponsor: Senator Conry): “An act to amend the public service law in relation to building make-ready electrical infrastructure for the charging of electric vehicles.” The committee moved the bill to third reading after members discussed that the measure would shift some make-ready costs into utility rate base, with a stated carve-out for disadvantaged communities and a 50% customer cost-share outside those areas. The committee reported “2 noes” and “1 without recs” during the tally; the bill was advanced to third reading.

- Bill 1194-A (sponsor: Senator Adaba): “An act to amend the public service law in relation to requiring gas and electric corporations to provide 45 days’ notice to customers of a service rate or charge increase.” The committee moved the bill to third reading; a single “nay” was recorded.

- Bill 1227 (sponsor: Senator May): Authorizes the Public Service Commission (PSC) to study interconnection processes into the electrical grid; moved to third reading after members discussed why PSC — rather than NYSERDA — was the appropriate agency for interconnection studies.

- Bill 1331 (sponsor: Senator Parker): Creates a NYSERDA-administered revolving loan fund to scale renewable and storage systems as microgrids for New York City Housing Authority properties; the bill was moved and noted as requiring finance review.

- Bill 1549 (sponsor: Senator Parker): Amends public service law to establish a program for eligible zero-emissions energy systems; the committee moved the bill and recorded one “no” vote and sent it to the Finance Committee for review of fiscal impacts and implementation details.

- Bill 1721 (sponsor: Senator Hinchey): Amends public service law related to certain penalties; sponsors said penalty amounts were updated to reflect inflation since 1986. The bill advanced after votes were recorded; committee reported two “no” votes.

- Bill 2011 (sponsor: Senator Parker): Directs Department of State and PSC to jointly study utility reporting to consumer credit agencies; members noted the bill had been previously vetoed by the governor. The committee moved the bill to the Finance Committee; members discussed the governor—s prior veto but did not record an amendment during this session.

- Bill 2183-A (sponsor: Senator Parker): Relates to alternative fuel availability along the New York State Thruway; moved to the Finance Committee with two “no” votes recorded.

- Bill 2253 (sponsor: Senator Connery): Requires PSC to develop a residential water cost index and to publish a report; moved to third reading with one “no” vote registered.

- Additional bills moved to third reading or referred to finance included measures related to wastewater treatment, consumer protections for victims of domestic violence, funding for clean hydrogen projects via NYSERDA, grid-enhancement technologies, investor-owned utility customer-facing information requirements, rate-limiting provisions on certain operating expense recoveries, and a floating solar incentive and education program. Several of these recorded one or two dissenting votes or “without recommendation” flags as noted at the meeting.

Why it matters

Collectively, the moved measures cover ratepayer protections, electrification infrastructure policy, interconnection process reform, state financing for microgrids and emerging clean-energy technologies, and consumer-reporting study mandates. Many of the committee—s actions advance policy decisions that will next receive fiscal review in the Senate Finance Committee or proceed to third reading on the Senate floor.

What the committee recorded about votes

During the session chair Parker read vote tallies aloud for multiple items; many bills were advanced with one or two dissenting committee members or a notation of “without recommendation.” The committee did not always identify individual yes votes on the record during the roll call counts announced in the transcript.

Next steps

Bills sent to the Finance Committee will be evaluated for fiscal impact before final disposition. Bills advanced to third reading will be scheduled for consideration on the Senate floor. Specific implementation details and PSC- or NYSERDA-led rulemaking (where applicable) were not resolved at the committee level and will be handled in subsequent agency or legislative actions.