New York § 66-X - 66-XEnergy affordability index

§ 66-X. 66-XEnergy affordability index

* § 66-x. Energy affordability index. 1. (a) Beginning January first, two thousand twenty-seven, the commission shall require each gas corporation, electric corporation, or combination gas and electric corporation to submit an annual affordability index showing the energy burden of such corporation's residential customers. (b) The commission shall promulgate rules and regulations adopting a methodology for gas corporations, electric corporations and combination gas and electric corporations to calculate an affordability index. The methodology may include the consideration of a variety of factors including differentiated income tiers, sources of energy burden, energy cost drivers in the relevant service territory, and such other factors as the commission may determine, and shall to the maximum extent practicable, use publicly available data. 2. On or before July first, two thousand twenty-seven, and annually thereafter, the commission shall issue a report on energy affordability that includes a comparison of the affordability of residential utility service provided by each gas corporation, electric corporation, and combination gas and electric corporation in New York state to affordability data from other states as reported by the United States energy information administration. 3. The commission may refer to such report, including information obtained from the filings of affordability indices in accordance with subdivision one of this section and paragraph (q) of subdivision twelve of section sixty-six of this article, and information obtained from reports of affordability monitors and investigations of gas corporations, electric corporations, and combination gas and electric corporations pursuant to subdivision thirty-three of section sixty-six of this article when reviewing filings for major changes in rates, and shall further consider the ratepayer affordability of such filing, with a focus on cumulative rate impacts, the interest of low- and middle-income utility customers, and minimizing residential energy burden. The commission shall, in each order approving a major change in rates for a gas corporation, electric corporation, or combination gas and electric corporation explain how such information impacted its determination, and include a written summary of the specific actions taken by the commission or department during the hearing to promote ratepayer affordability. * NB Effective January 1, 2027