NY S08372

Establishes a utility intervenor reimbursement program allowing residential and small business customer groups and not-for-profit organizations to recover advocate fees, expert witness fees, and reasonable costs for participation in PSC proceedings.

Defines "participant" as groups representing significant residential or small business customers or authorized non-profit organizations, excluding organizations whose principal interests are utility company or investor welfare.

Requires participants to apply for compensation and demonstrate they can make a "substantial contribution" to the proceeding; the Department of Public Service must decide within 30 days whether to award reimbursement.

Allows the Department to authorize utilities to pay compensation in advance if a participant demonstrates significant financial hardship, with recovery provisions if the participant discontinues participation without consent.

Creates the "utility intervenor account" in the State Comptroller's office to hold reimbursement monies received from utilities, with compensation paid by utilities within 30 days of proceeding conclusion and remitted through the Department to participants.