N.Y. General Business Law § 778-aa: Home heating system conversion

§ 778-aa. Home heating system conversion. 1. All home improvement

contractors as defined in subdivision five of section seven hundred

seventy of this chapter or any other person providing an estimate or

engaged in the installation of home heating systems shall include in any

estimate of the cost of converting an existing oil home heating system

to a natural gas, electric or any other home heating system a separate

estimate detailing the costs related to the closure, abandonment and/or

removal of a home heating oil storage tank. In addition, any person

making such estimate shall also provide a copy of any applicable local

law, or if there is no local law then such person shall provide a

written statement to that effect.

2. Every estimate of the cost to secure a storage tank as part of a

home heating system conversion shall include the removal of all fill and

vent pipes and such other related materials and/or equipment.

3. Upon entering into an agreement for the conversion of an existing

home heating system from an oil home heating system to an alternative

method of home heating, and prior to the commencement of the new home

heating service, any home improvement contractor installing the

alternate home heating system shall provide to the homeowner a written

copy of the notice created by the department of state pursuant to

subdivision five of this section, in no less than 14 point bold type and

separate from any other document provided to such homeowner and provide

as may be required by state or local law, written notice of the

agreement for the conversion of an existing home heating system to the

municipal code enforcement official having authority to enforce the New

York state uniform fire prevention and building code, or local code

applicable to cities with a population of one million or more, whichever

code applies to the jurisdiction in which the home heating system is

located.

4. (a) Prior to the commencement of the new home heating service, the

property owner shall provide written notice to such property owner's

heating oil supplier or suppliers to inform them of such conversion to

an alternate fuel prior to the commencement of the new home heating

service.

(b) The department of state shall have the authority to promulgate any

rules or regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this

subdivision.

5. The department of state shall create and make available to the

public on the department's website a notice informing homeowners who are

converting their existing oil home heating system to an alternative

method of home heating of the provisions of subdivision thirteen of

section three hundred seventy-eight of the executive law, in addition to

any other state laws, rules, or regulations related to the closure,

abandonment, and/or removal of a heating oil storage tank, including

fill and vent pipes and other related materials and equipment. Such

notice shall include information to inform the homeowner that the

homeowner shall provide written notice to his or her home heating oil

supplier to inform such supplier of such conversion prior to the

commencement of the new home heating service, and shall also advise the

homeowner that there may be other local laws related to such conversion.