New York Assembly Bill A10763

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 4/1/26
• Refer: 4/1/26
• Report Pass: 5/11/26
• Refer: 5/11/26
• Report Pass: 5/20/26
• Engrossed: 6/1/26
• Refer: 6/1/26

Caption

Reduces electric corporations' response time for securing downed wires

Summary

A10763 amends the Public Service Law to require electric utilities to take specific safety precautions when downed wires are reported. The bill directs utilities to develop plans to promptly de-energize downed wires within two hours after notification from a municipal emergency responder and to secure the wires within six hours for incidents that are not classified as emergencies under existing law. It also requires utilities’ plans to include communication procedures so emergency responders are informed about expected timeframes for securing the wires. The measure is aimed at reducing the danger posed by live or unsecured electrical lines after storms, accidents, or other incidents. By setting response-time expectations in statute, it would create a clearer operational standard for utilities and a corresponding safety protocol for local emergency personnel and the public.

Impact

The bill would add a new subdivision 21-a to section 66 of the Public Service Law, expanding the duties of electric utilities regarding electrical hazards and downed-wire response. It would not create a new enforcement scheme in the text provided, but it would impose statutory planning and response obligations on utilities, likely affecting utility operations, emergency coordination, and public safety procedures statewide. Municipal emergency responders would also be directly involved as the trigger for the two-hour de-energization timeline.

Sentiment

The bill appears to have broad support in the Assembly, passing the Energy Committee, Rules Committee, and the full Assembly by comfortable margins. The vote history suggests a generally favorable view of the bill’s public-safety purpose and its effort to improve utility responsiveness to hazardous downed wires. No committee transcript is available here, so the recorded votes are the main indicator of sentiment.

Contention

The main point of possible contention is the mandate itself: utilities may object to the feasibility, cost, or operational rigidity of requiring de-energization within two hours and securing within six hours in non-emergency situations. Any concerns would likely center on whether the timelines are realistic across different weather, terrain, staffing, and outage conditions, and on how the bill interacts with existing emergency-response procedures. The 35 no votes on final passage suggest some legislative resistance, though the bill still advanced with substantial support.