S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
7593--B
Cal. No. 504
2009-2010 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
April 16, 2009
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Introduced by M. of A. CAHILL, JOHN, CHRISTENSEN, GLICK, GUNTHER,
FIELDS, PHEFFER, JACOBS, BOYLAND, ROSENTHAL, ALESSI -- Multi-Sponsored
by -- M. of A. BENJAMIN, BRODSKY, COLTON, DESTITO, DINOWITZ, FARRELL,
HEVESI, LIFTON, LUPARDO, MAGEE, MAGNARELLI, McDONOUGH, ORTIZ, TOWNS --
read once and referred to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities
and Commissions -- reported from committee, advanced to a third read-
ing, amended and ordered reprinted, retaining its place on the order
of third reading -- reported from committee, advanced to a third read-
ing, amended and ordered reprinted, retaining its place on the order
of third reading
AN ACT to amend the public service law, in relation to utility service
call centers
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
1 Section 1. Subdivision 11 of section 65 of the public service law, as
2 added by chapter 693 of the laws of 1985, is renumbered subdivision 12
3 and a new subdivision 13 is added to read as follows:
4 13. (A) EVERY GAS CORPORATION OR ELECTRIC CORPORATION FURNISHING UTIL-
5 ITY SERVICES SHALL PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING CALL CENTER CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE
6 RECEIVING INQUIRIES ON: CUSTOMER FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY; RECEIVING
7 REQUESTS TO INITIATE OR TERMINATE SERVICE; RECEIVING REQUESTS FOR EMER-
8 GENCY SERVICES; DETERMINING DEPOSIT REQUIRED OR BILLING RATE; RECEIVING
9 METER AND SERVICE ORDERS AND ACCESS TO METER REQUESTS; EXPLAINING COMPA-
10 NY RATES, REGULATIONS, POLICIES, PROCEDURES, AND COMMON PRACTICES;
11 INITIATING TROUBLE ORDER FORMS AND HIGH BILL INVESTIGATIONS; HANDLING
12 PAYMENT AND OTHER CREDIT ARRANGEMENTS SUCH AS OBTAINING DEPOSITS, FINAN-
13 CIAL STATEMENTS AND PAYMENT PLANS; AND REFERRING CUSTOMERS TO SOCIAL
14 SERVICE AGENCIES AND OTHER ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.
15 (B) NO GAS OR ELECTRIC CORPORATION SHALL CLOSE A CALL CENTER OR OTHER
16 FACILITY PROVIDING THE CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE SET FORTH IN PARAGRAPH (A) OF
17 THIS SUBDIVISION OR RELOCATE SUCH CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE TO ANOTHER AREA OF
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10678-06-0
A. 7593--B 2
1 NEW YORK STATE OR OUTSIDE OF NEW YORK STATE WITHOUT NOTICE AND HEARING
2 BEFORE THE COMMISSION.
3 (C) THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL NOT APPLY TO THE COLLECTION OF DEBT WHERE
4 BY UTILITY COMPANY POLICY SUCH DEBT IS DIRECTED TO A COLLECTION AGENCY
5 OR SIMILAR SERVICE COMPANIES.
6 S 2. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall
7 have become a law. The public service commission is immediately author-
8 ized and directed to take any and all actions, including but not limited
9 to the promulgation of any rules or regulations necessary to implement
10 the provisions of this act on such effective date.