Enacts the "ratepayer disclosure and transparency act"

• Republican30
• Democratic1

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Thomas F. O'Mara says this is needed

New York State has spent billions of taxpayer dollars into various "green" programs without having done any meaningful cost benefit analy- sis. For the first time, this bill would give consumers a clear view of how their money is being spent. This legislation would require utility companies to provide a detailed breakdown of the costs associated with state-mandated programs. By adding a line-item expense report to utility bills, this measure ensures greater transparency, allowing customers to see exactly how their payments contribute to funding the following programs: 1. The Clean Energy Standard Tier 1 2. The Clean Energy Standard Tier 2 3. The Clean Energy Standard Tier 3 4. The Clean Energy Standard Tier 4 5. Offshore Wind Initiative 6. Clean Energy Fund 7. Electric Energy Efficiency Programs 8. Gas Energy Efficiency Programs 9. Electric Heat Pump Programs 10. Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Investments 11. Electric Generation Facility Cessation Mitigation Program 12. Public Policy Transmission Projects 13. Local Transmission & Distribution Projects 14. Earnings Adjustment Mechanisms 15. Incentives for Distributed Energy Resources through net metering arrangements 16. Energy Storage initiates 17. Low Income Assistance Programs The State has collected Billions of dollars from ratepayers to support various "Green" initiatives with absolutely no explanation to the rate- payers of the amount they are paying for them and no accountability what it is being spent on. For example, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is a multi- state carbon dioxide emission-reduction program that has been opera- tional in New York State since 2008. The program requires the purchase of pollution allowances at quarterly auctions, with a tax on each allow- ance. The revenue from this initiative funds major portions of the State's mandated programs. In addition, State regulations and energy efficiency mandates are continuing to place additional fiscal pressure on ratepayers. Programs that contribute to this pressure include: the Clean Energy Standards these programs have spent billions of tax dollars to subsidize Net Metering, the Systems Benefits Charge, the Renewable Portfolio Standard, Energy Standards for Public Buildings and Appliance/Equipment Efficiency Standards. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has stated its goal of helping New York meet its energy goals through reduced energy consumption, supporting the use of renewable energy and protecting the environment. High energy taxes back all of the energy efficiency incentives and financing options available through NYSERDA for individuals and/or families with low to moderate incomes. While these extremely expensive programs may have laudable goals, this legis- lation seeks to quantify their effect on New York State ratepayers, by clearly identifying and publishing all of the energy related mandates, and their true cost-benefit to the economy. This legislation sends a message to those we represent that New York State customers should not be overpaying for services, being treated unfairly, being taken advan- tage of, or that their hard-earned incomes are not being frivolously expended by State government.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.