NY S01701

Restructures the penalty system for public utility violations by replacing fixed dollar caps with flexible penalties determined by the Public Service Commission based on multiple factors including scope of damages, whether violations were knowing or willful, recurring patterns, and impact on human safety

Expands penalty authority to cover electric corporations, gas corporations, cable television companies, telephone corporations, steam corporations, and water-works corporations, along with their officers and employees

Requires telephone and cable television companies to submit annual emergency response plans by December 15th, including management staff identification, communications systems with tested redundancies, crew deployment procedures, and protocols for equipment and supplies during emergencies

Mandates that electric corporation emergency response plans include enhanced communications requirements with redundancy testing, 36-hour deadlines for securing downed wires after notification from municipal officials, and 72-hour assessment requirements for reported wire hazards

Prohibits utilities from recovering penalty payments, assessment costs, and litigation expenses from ratepayers, requiring all recovered penalty monies to be remitted to or for the benefit of ratepayers