S9933 — Relates to settlement negotiations in major electric, natural gas, water, and steam rate increase proceedings before the public service commission

Summary

Requires the department of public service to assign an administrative law judge to preside over all rate case settlement negotiations.

Bill Text

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Compared against the New York Consolidated Laws as published AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

This bill amends 1 section(s) of the New York Consolidated Laws: Section 66 of the public service law.

• Section 66 of the public service law

  33. (a) In any rate proceeding, upon the utility filing of a notice of impending negotiations pursuant to the department's rules and regu- lations, the department shall assign an administrative law judge or judges who have received training in mediation and facilitation from an organization certified to provide such training to preside over the settlement process. The settlement administrative law judge or judges shall preside over all rate case settlement negotiations for the purpose of ensuring an orderly, consistent, fair, and efficient process by establishing structure for the negotiations, reducing impediments to participation, and encouraging open communication. Among the tasks the judge or judges shall perform are coordinating scheduling and facilitat- ing meetings. The judge or judges shall oversee the settlement process in a consistent and predictable manner so that the process itself is similar for each rate proceeding and not dependent on the individual judge or judges assigned. To ensure consistency in the process, the department shall create and share public standards explaining how the settlement process shall be organized and administered. At the request of any party, the judge or judges may function as a mediator in regard to any particular topic unless another party that is concerned about the same topic objects. (b) As used in this subdivision, the following terms shall have the following meanings: italics (i) "Settlement administrative law judge" or "judge" shall mean an administrative law judge assigned by the department to oversee settle- ment negotiations instituted by the utility filing of impending negoti- ations pursuant to the department's rules and regulations. (ii) "Settlement process" shall mean a set of formal negotiations of the parties organized by the department that is intended to resolve all or some of the issues in any rate proceeding and lead to a joint proposal. (iii) "Joint proposal" shall mean a negotiated settlement agreement signed by two or more parties in a rate proceeding. 13. (a) In any rate proceeding, upon the utility filing of a notice of impending negotiations pursuant to the department's rules and regu- lations, the department shall assign an administrative law judge or judges who have received training in mediation and facilitation from an organization certified to provide such training to preside over the settlement process. The settlement administrative law judge or judges shall preside over all rate case settlement negotiations for the purpose of ensuring an orderly, consistent, fair, and efficient process by establishing structure for the negotiations, reducing impediments to participation, and encouraging open communication. Among the tasks the judge or judges shall perform are coordinating scheduling and facilitat- ing meetings. The judge or judges shall oversee the settlement process in a consistent and predictable manner so that the process itself is similar for each rate proceeding and not dependent on the individual judge or judges assigned. To ensure consistency in the process, the department shall create and share public standards explaining how the settlement process shall be organized and administered. At the request of any party, the judge or judges may function as a mediator in regard to any particular topic unless another party that is concerned about the same topic objects. (b) As used in this subdivision, the following terms shall have the following meanings: (i) "Settlement administrative law judge" shall mean an administrative law judge assigned by the department to oversee settlement negotiations instituted by the utility filing of impending negotiations pursuant to section 3.9 of the department's rules and regulations. (ii) "Settlement process" shall mean a set of formal negotiations of the parties organized by the department that is intended to resolve all or some of the issues in any rate proceeding and lead to a joint proposal. (iii) "Joint proposal"

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Action History

1. April 16, 2026

   REFERRED TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Sponsors

• Leroy Comrie · Primary

Subjects