STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 1717 2021-2022 Regular Sessions IN ASSEMBLY January 11, 2021 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. PRETLOW -- read once and referred to the Commit- tee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions AN ACT to amend the public service law, in relation to the general powers of the commission in respect to gas and electricity The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Section 66 of the public service law is amended by adding 2 two new subdivisions 11-a and 11-b to read as follows: 3 11-a. Require every gas corporation, electric corporation and gas and 4 electric corporation, where necessary, to amend its filed tariff sched- 5 ules by eliminating any provision (a) attempting to relieve such corpo- 6 ration from liability arising from the negligence or willful misconduct 7 of its officers, agents or servants; (b) limiting the liability of the 8 corporation for damages resulting from its own negligence in connection 9 with the property owned, installed or maintained by a customer or leased 10 by a customer from a third party; and (c) limiting the liability of the 11 company for any damages resulting from the negligence of the company in 12 connection with the supplying or use of electricity or gas or from the 13 presence or operation of the company's structures, equipment, wires, 14 pipes, appliances or devices on the consumer's premises. 15 11-b. Have power in all parts of the state, either as a commission or 16 through its members, or through an officer or employee specifically 17 authorized to consider regulatory conduct of every gas corporation, 18 electric corporation and gas and electric corporation, where necessary, 19 to (a) investigate that a regulatory failure occurred despite the exer- 20 cise of ordinary business care and prudence and to conduct a hearing or 21 proceeding to subpoena witnesses, take testimony and administer oaths to 22 witnesses in any proceeding or examination instituted before it, or 23 conducted by it in reference to such matter within its jurisdiction; and 24 (b) allow such commission to award damages resulting from such failure 25 to persons thereby affected in the community. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD00112-01-1A. 1717 2 1 § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after 2 it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amend- 3 ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen- 4 tation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made by 5 the public service commission on or before such effective date.