NY A00878

Restricts Energy Services Companies (ESCOs) from enrolling or renewing residential and small non-residential customers unless the contract guarantees savings over utility prices, offers a fixed rate no more than 5% above the trailing 12-month average utility rate, or provides renewable energy at least 50% greater than the ESCO's current renewable energy standard obligation

Requires ESCOs to guarantee savings for all low-income customers and submit documentation to the department prior to enrollment showing what the customer would have paid to the default utility

Mandates ESCOs obtain affirmative consent from customers before enrolling them in renewable energy contracts that do not guarantee savings

Requires ESCOs to provide transparency and disclosure statements showing price per kilowatt-hour, comparison to default utility prices, and renewable energy content, with statements published on both the ESCO's website and the Public Service Commission's website

Enrollment contracts must include a customer notice statement in 14-point font disclosing utility cost comparisons and assurances that customers will pay no more than they would have paid to the default utility