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Bill

A 2469

Creates the utility consumer advocate of the Long Island office of the department of public service

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Michael Durso and 2 co-sponsors

Creates a Utility Consumer Advocate in the Long Island DPS office to represent utility customers in regulatory matters affecting rates, service quality, and protections.

REFERRED TO CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND PROTECTION
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Bill Summary · A 2469

Summary of Bill A 2469

What this bill would do

  • Creates a new position: the Utility Consumer Advocate within the Long Island Office of the New York Department of Public Service (DPS).
  • The bill designates the Long Island office to house this advocate role to represent utility customers (residential and business) in matters arising in Long Island, focusing on issues such as rates, service quality, and consumer protections as they relate to utility providers in the region.

Purpose and intent

  • Establish a dedicated advocate within the DPS Long Island Office to ensure that the interests of utility consumers in Long Island are represented in ongoing regulatory processes and interactions with utility providers.
  • Aims to enhance consumer input and oversight in matters affecting utility service and pricing on Long Island.

Key provisions and changes (as provided)

  • Establishment of the Utility Consumer Advocate position within the DPS Long Island Office.
  • Specific duties, appointment process, qualifications, term length, funding, reporting lines, and scope of authority are not detailed in the information available here. Those provisions will be defined in the bill’s text.

Note: The summary provided covers the bill’s core stated purpose. The exact operational details (duties, powers, independence, funding, and reporting) would appear in the full bill text.

Who would be affected

  • Primary beneficiaries: utility customers in Long Island, including both residential and business customers.
  • DPS Long Island Office: would gain an internal advocate to represent consumer interests.
  • Utilities serving Long Island: potential participants in regulatory proceedings and interactions influenced by the advocate.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduced: January 17, 2025.
  • Status: Referred to the Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection.
  • Legislative actions recorded:
    • 2025-01-17: Referred to Consumer Affairs and Protection (listed twice in the record provided).

Sponsors

  • Primary sponsor: Edward Ra
  • Cosponsors: Jerett Gandolfo, Michael Durso

Related bills

  • A 11037 (prior-session)
  • A 4389 (prior-session)
  • A 3366 (prior-session)
  • These related bills suggest prior efforts to create or enhance consumer advocacy within DPS or related offices.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Positive impact: clearer representation for Long Island utility customers in regulatory matters, potential improvements in rate case handling and consumer protections.
  • Considerations: clarity on funding, independence of the advocate, scope of authority, appointment process, and how this position interacts with existing DPS/PSC processes will be defined in the enacted bill text.

Next steps for readers

  • Review the full bill text for detailed provisions on the advocate’s duties, appointment, qualifications, tenure, funding, and reporting structure.
  • Monitor committee actions and any amendments or floor votes as the bill progresses.
  • Compare with related bills (A 11037, A 4389, A 3366) to understand recurring proposals or differences across sessions.

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

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