NY A02613

Electric and natural gas corporations must establish and maintain reduced rate schedules for low-income customers with rate reductions between 25-35% of standard residential rates.

Eligibility includes customers receiving benefits from SSI, TANF, SNAP, medical assistance, home energy assistance, telephone lifeline assistance, and other assistance programs approved by the Public Service Commission.

Utilities must promote enrollment through privacy-protected data exchanges with social services agencies and provide application forms and eligibility information on websites, in offices, bill inserts, and at service initiation.

Revenue impacts of reduced rate programs shall be mitigated through overearnings, disallowed rate premiums, uncommitted surcharge funds, and restrictions on executive compensation bonuses, with costs distributed across all customer classes rather than a single class.

Electric and natural gas corporations must establish reduced rates no later than January 1, 2020, and file annual reports on enrollment numbers and program administration.