New York Senate Bill S01847

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/14/25
• Refer: 1/14/25
• Report Pass: 1/21/25
• Engrossed: 1/27/25
• Refer: 1/27/25
• Refer: 1/7/26
• Report Pass: 1/27/26
• Engrossed: 2/5/26
• Refer: 2/5/26

Caption

Requires consideration of evidence relating to the economic impact of major increases of rates or charges upon consumers and the areas affected by such increases of rates or charges prior to approval of any such rates or charges; establishes minimum data to be considered by the public service commission relating to such economic impact.

Summary

S01847 would require the New York Public Service Commission to consider the economic impact on consumers before approving any “major increase” in utility rates or charges proposed by a public utility company or municipality. The bill defines a major increase as one that would raise the applicant’s aggregate revenues by more than the greater of $300,000 or 2.5 percent. It applies to rate or charge requests submitted on or after the bill’s effective date. In making that assessment, the commission would have to review a minimum set of data for the affected service territory and customer classes, including unemployment and income information, the number of people receiving social services assistance, current average monthly utility bills, estimated bill increases, and federal consumer price index data on cost of living, fuel, and utilities. The bill does not set a new rate standard or cap rates; instead, it adds a required analytical step and evidentiary record before approval of significant utility price increases.

Impact

The bill amends the Public Service Law by adding a new section 119-f, creating a formal economic impact assessment requirement in PSC rate cases involving major increases. It would affect public utilities and municipalities seeking to raise rates or charges, and it would require the commission to incorporate broader affordability and local economic conditions into its existing approval determinations under several Public Service Law provisions. The practical effect is to expand the factors the PSC must consider, potentially making approval of large rate hikes more data-intensive and consumer-focused.

Sentiment

The available voting history suggests generally favorable sentiment toward the bill. It passed the Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee unanimously in 2025 and again with only one dissenting vote in 2026, and it cleared Senate floor votes by comfortable margins both times. The lack of committee transcript material limits insight into debate, but the vote pattern indicates broad support for requiring affordability and economic-impact review before utility rate increases are approved.

Contention

The main point of contention is likely the balance between consumer protection and regulatory burden. Supporters appear to favor requiring the PSC to weigh unemployment, income, social service reliance, and cost-of-living data before approving large increases, while any opposition would likely come from utilities or others concerned that the added assessment could slow approvals, increase compliance burdens, or make it harder to secure needed revenue increases. The bill’s threshold for what counts as a major increase and the breadth of data the PSC must consider are the most notable policy choices.