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A 8025

Authorizes the public service commission to consider non-economic loss suffered by consumers when determining penalties

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jonathan Jacobson

Allows the PSC to consider non-economic harms to consumers when calculating penalties for utility rule violations.

REFERRED TO CORPORATIONS, AUTHORITIES AND COMMISSIONS
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Bill Summary · A 8025

Summary of Assembly Bill A 8025

Overview

  • Bill Number: A 8025
  • Title: Authorizes the public service commission to consider non-economic loss suffered by consumers when determining penalties
  • Sponsor: Jonathan Jacobson (primary)
  • Status: Referred to Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
  • Introduced: April 22, 2025
  • Related: Companion bill in the Senate — S 7165

Purpose and Intent

A 8025 would authorize the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) to take into account non-economic harms experienced by consumers when calculating penalties for violations by utilities or regulated entities. The aim is to align penalties with broader adverse effects on customers beyond direct monetary losses or regulatory violations, recognizing harm such as service disruption, safety concerns, privacy impacts, inconvenience, and loss of trust.

Key Provisions (as stated)

  • The PSC would be empowered to consider non-economic losses suffered by consumers when determining penalties for violations of PSC rules and public service law.
  • This authority is intended to supplement existing penalty frameworks, ensuring that penalties reflect the full range of harms experienced by consumers.

Note: The available information does not provide exact statutory language, specific categories of non-economic losses, or mandatory scoring/weighting criteria. The bill would primarily authorize consideration of non-economic harms in penalty determinations; any detailed implementation (criteria, thresholds, or rulemaking) would presumably be addressed in PSC guidelines or future amendments.

Affected Parties

  • Consumers and households served by utilities regulated by the PSC (to the extent they experience non-economic harms).
  • Regulated utilities and entities subject to PSC penalties.
  • The PSC itself, which would implement and apply the new consideration in enforcement actions.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Introduced and referred to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions on April 22, 2025.
  • No further action details are provided in the available information (e.g., no committee reports, floor votes, or enacted dates yet).
  • Companion legislation exists in the Senate as S 7165 (listed as a companion bill; there is more than one mention in the provided material).

Potential Impacts and Considerations

  • Legal/Penalty Implications: Could lead to higher or differently structured penalties where non-economic harms are significant, potentially affecting compliance incentives for regulated entities.
  • Measurement and Criteria: Implementation would require PSC guidelines or rulemaking to define what constitutes non-economic loss and how it is weighed relative to other penalty factors.
  • Stakeholder Impacts: Utilities may need to consider customer impacts beyond financial damages in their compliance and risk management; consumers could see penalties that reflect broader harms.
  • Fiscal/Administrative: Possible administrative costs for PSC to assess non-economic harms and for utilities to respond to penalties shaped by these considerations.

Next Steps

  • Await committee consideration (and potential amendments) in the Assembly.
  • If advanced, monitor for PSC rulemaking or guidance detailing the criteria and processes for evaluating non-economic losses.
  • Track the companion Senate bill S 7165 for alignment or differences and potential passage.

This summary aims to present the bill’s core intent and likely effects based on the available text and status.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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