NY S01330

Requires the Public Service Commission within 180 days to mandate that electric, gas, and steam utility companies provide automatic affordable payment plans to qualifying low-income customers

Establishes eligibility based on participation in assistance programs including SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, HEAP, federal public housing, TANF, Head Start, and other income-based programs

Mandates utility companies conspicuously advertise payment plan availability on their websites and create electronic submission mechanisms for eligibility documentation

Requires utility companies to consider customer circumstances when devising plans, including amount owed, ability to pay, payment history, anticipated energy assistance benefits, and potential hardship from service loss

Guarantees customers at least 21 days from bill date to pay in full and prohibits early fund withdrawal from automatic payment accounts without customer consent