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Read. Follow. Verify.New York bill bars utility companies from charging late fees and disconnecting service during formal state investigations
Last action · January 7, 2026: ORDERED TO THIRD READING CAL.35Sponsors: Sarahana Shrestha and 21 others
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What This Bill Would Do
Utility corporations in New York are prohibited from imposing late fees, interest, or penalties, and cannot terminate residential service for non-payment, while the Public Service Commission is conducting a formal into billing, rates, or charges. The measure applies to residential gas, electric, and steam utility services, taking effect on the thirtieth day after becoming law.
Residential utility customers under formal commission review gain temporary protection from service shutoffs and accumulating debt, while utilities lose immediate collection powers during active proceedings unless a final order rules in their favor.
- The New York Public Service Commission regulates rates and services of public utility companies across the state. context
- Utility bills and service shutoffs are frequent subjects of consumer protection legislation in state assemblies. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Residential utility customers
Residential customers are protected from utility service terminations and late fee charges during active commission investigations.
Utility corporations
Utility corporations must suspend late fees and service shutoffs during investigations and submit required customer notifications.
Public Service Commission
The commission must determine allowable penalties, decide on fee waivers, post public notices, and submit annual legislative reports.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my utility service be shut off while the commission investigates my utility provider?
Will I still owe late fees if the investigation rules in favor of the utility company?
How will I be notified if an investigation is launched against my utility provider?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently on floor. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Passed.
Procedural history
11 actions- Jan 7, 2026HouseORDERED TO THIRD READING CAL.35
- Jun 11, 2025HouseORDERED TO THIRD READING RULES CAL.602
- Jun 11, 2025HouseRULES REPORT CAL.602
- Jun 11, 2025HouseREPORTED
- Jun 9, 2025HouseCommitteeAMEND AND RECOMMIT TO RULES 953B
- Jun 9, 2025HouseCommitteeREPORTED REFERRED TO RULES
Show 5 earlier actions
- Jun 8, 2025HouseREFERENCE CHANGED TO WAYS AND MEANS
- Apr 29, 2025HouseCommitteeREPORTED REFERRED TO CODES
- Mar 31, 2025HousePRINT NUMBER 953A
- Mar 31, 2025HouseCommitteeAMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO CORPORATIONS, AUTHORITIES AND COMMISSIONS
- Jan 8, 2025HouseCommitteeREFERRED TO CORPORATIONS, AUTHORITIES AND COMMISSIONS
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Show 17 more sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Extension of Protections Across Utility Types
The legislation uniformly amends public service law across three distinct utility sectors—gas/electric, commercial gas/electric, and commercial steam—to establish parallel investigatory protections.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.nysenate.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy60Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz35Current news / social attention level
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