NY A07165

Establishes a utility intervenor reimbursement program allowing residential and small business customer groups and nonprofit organizations to seek compensation for advocate fees, expert witness fees, and reasonable costs of participating in Public Service Commission proceedings.

Defines eligible "participants" as groups representing significant numbers of residential or small business customers, or nonprofits authorized to represent such interests, excluding organizations primarily serving utility company or large business interests.

Requires the Department of Public Service to decide within 30 days whether an applicant can make "substantial contribution" to a proceeding and determine compensation amounts based on comparable market rates, with potential advance payments for participants facing significant financial hardship.

Mandates participating utilities pay compensation to the Department within 30 days after proceeding conclusion, which then remits funds to participants, with unused compensation returned to the utilities.

Creates the utility intervenor account in the joint custody of the State Comptroller and Commissioner of Taxation and Finance to hold reimbursement monies received from utilities under this program.