N.Y. Public Service Law § 66-x: Energy affordability index

* § 66-x. Energy affordability index. 1. (a) Beginning January first,

two thousand twenty-seven, the commission shall require each gas

corporation, electric corporation, or combination gas and electric

corporation to submit an annual affordability index showing the energy

burden of such corporation's residential customers.

(b) The commission shall promulgate rules and regulations adopting a

methodology for gas corporations, electric corporations and combination

gas and electric corporations to calculate an affordability index. The

methodology may include the consideration of a variety of factors

including differentiated income tiers, sources of energy burden, energy

cost drivers in the relevant service territory, and such other factors

as the commission may determine, and shall to the maximum extent

practicable, use publicly available data.

2. On or before July first, two thousand twenty-seven, and annually

thereafter, the commission shall issue a report on energy affordability

that includes a comparison of the affordability of residential utility

service provided by each gas corporation, electric corporation, and

combination gas and electric corporation in New York state to

affordability data from other states as reported by the United States

energy information administration.

3. The commission may refer to such report, including information

obtained from the filings of affordability indices in accordance with

subdivision one of this section and paragraph (q) of subdivision twelve

of section sixty-six of this article, and information obtained from

reports of affordability monitors and investigations of gas

corporations, electric corporations, and combination gas and electric

corporations pursuant to subdivision thirty-three of section sixty-six

of this article when reviewing filings for major changes in rates, and

shall further consider the ratepayer affordability of such filing, with

a focus on cumulative rate impacts, the interest of low- and

middle-income utility customers, and minimizing residential energy

burden. The commission shall, in each order approving a major change in

rates for a gas corporation, electric corporation, or combination gas

and electric corporation explain how such information impacted its

determination, and include a written summary of the specific actions

taken by the commission or department during the hearing to promote

ratepayer affordability.

* NB Effective January 1, 2027