PSC Adopts Natural Gas Customer Bill of Rights
Summary
The New York Public Service Commission has adopted a natural gas customer bill of rights that utilities must follow before issuing a moratorium on new gas service. This decision establishes protections and processes for customers and requires utilities to prepare data on low-income and disadvantaged communities.
What changed
The New York Public Service Commission (PSC) has adopted a new natural gas customer bill of rights that requires utilities to provide specific protections and adhere to defined processes before implementing a moratorium on new gas service. This rule mandates that utilities prepare data concerning low and moderate-income customers and disadvantaged communities, and include updated information on non-pipe alternatives in their long-term plans. The PSC also requires utilities to make permanent draft tariff language regarding moratorium criteria.
Gas utilities operating in New York must now comply with these new requirements. The bill of rights aims to ensure a uniform, transparent, and streamlined process for the commencement, continuation, and conclusion of any future natural gas moratoriums. While no specific compliance deadline is mentioned, the rule is effective upon adoption, and utilities should review and update their tariff language and data collection processes accordingly to avoid potential enforcement actions by the PSC.
What to do next
- Review and update tariff language to include moratorium management procedures and customer bill of rights.
- Develop processes for collecting and reporting data on low- and moderate-income customers and disadvantaged communities.
- Incorporate information on non-pipe alternatives into long-term plan updates.
Source document (simplified)
PSC Adopts Natural Gas Customer Bill of Rights
Commission Provides Greater Protection for Consumers Facing a Gas Moratorium ALBANY — The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) today adopted a natural gas customer bill of rights that utilities must provide and abide by before they can issue a moratorium on new gas service. Today’s decision lays out certain protections and processes for new and existing gas utility customers in the event of a gas moratorium in the state.
“A moratorium on providing applicants or prospective customers with gas service should be a last step, not a first option. However, if a moratorium becomes necessary, the procedures will facilitate a uniform, transparent, and streamlined process for the commencement, continuation, and conclusion of a natural gas moratorium,” said Commission Chair Rory M. Christian. “Providing a standardized Customer Bill of Rights ensures transparent and uniform protections and processes for existing and potential gas customers in the event of a potential natural gas moratorium.”
Today’s decision requires utilities to prepare data pertaining to low and moderate-income utility customers, as well as disadvantaged communities, before a utility declares a moratorium. Gas utilities will be required to make permanent draft tariff language regarding criteria for declaring moratoria that they had previously filed. In addition, the Commission now requires the utilities to include certain additional information in long-term plan updates related to opportunities for non-pipes alternatives.
In certain areas of the state, gas distribution utilities have previously operated under moratorium conditions based upon natural gas supply constraints, and such circumstances may occur in the future. Accordingly, moratoria management procedures, including a moratorium customer bill of rights and the provision of certain data pertaining to low- and moderate-income utility customers and disadvantaged communities, will be implemented in the event of additional moratorium enactment or rescission.
In early 2022, the Commission approved moratorium management procedures based upon experience with moratoriums in various gas utilities’ service territories that demonstrated the need to have clear procedures in place should moratoria be deemed necessary in the future. The moratorium management procedures ensure that customers throughout the state understand when, where, and how a natural gas moratorium may be imposed.
Today’s decision may be obtained by going to the Commission Documents section of the Commission’s website at www.dps.ny.gov and entering Case Number 20-G-0131 in the input box labeled "Search for Case/Matter Number". Many libraries offer free Internet access. Commission documents may also be obtained from the Commission’s Files Office, 14th floor, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12223 (518-474-2500). If you have difficulty understanding English, please call us at 1-800-342-3377 for free language assistance services regarding this press release.
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