NY A04768

Prohibits electric corporations and municipalities from charging qualifying farmers any fees, penalties, or charges beyond the cost of actual services (electricity, transmission, distribution, metering, billing, and customer services).

Defines "farmer" as a person whose federal gross farm income for the previous taxable year was at least $10,000.

Defines "qualifying farmer" as a farmer who installs an on-site electric generation system and files notification with the electric corporation or municipality and the state department prior to a service territory's cut-off date.

Establishes the "cut-off date" as when a service territory receives notifications from qualifying farmers with combined generating capacity equal to or exceeding one-tenth of one percent of the territory's 1998 total electric demand, or September 1, 2020, whichever occurs first.

Prohibits electric corporations and municipalities from implementing policies or procedures that would prevent qualifying farmers from installing and operating on-site generation equipment and related technology.

Stipulates that revenues lost by electric corporations due to these farmer protections shall not be recovered from other customers.

Bill takes effect immediately and repeals September 1, 2022, except protections continue for qualifying farmers as long as their on-site generation system remains in use.