Environment
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified
Risks
- No material direct effect identified
StateNew YorkIntroduced
S 10667: Establishes a presumption that certain refunds received by public utility companies shall be passed on to ratepayers
Jeremy Cooney
S 10667 status: Introduced — PRINT NUMBER 10667A (updated Sep 9, 2026).
Source
LegiScan
Confidence
High
Analysis basis
LegiScan full bill text
01
What this bill does
Official summary alongside an AI-generated read on where it stands and why.
Overall Score
80OUT OF 100
Score:80/100 civic fit
Risk:Low Risk
Impact:Moderate Impact 65/100
Constitutionality95%
Bipartisan60%
Public opinion85%
Bill summary
What changes
The bill amends the Public Service Law to establish a legal presumption that refunds received by public utilities—derived from costs, taxes, or fees previously charged to ratepayers—must be returned to those ratepayers rather than retained by the utility.
Who is affected
Public utility companies operating in New York, their customers (ratepayers), and municipalities or counties that may have paid excessive utility fees.
Requirements and enforcement
Utilities must pass on identified refunds to ratepayers via credits, direct payments, or rate reductions. They must also obtain PSC approval for any costs deducted from the refund and meet strict evidentiary requirements to rebut the presumption.
Costs and funding
Utilities will bear administrative costs to identify and pursue refunds, which they may only recover if the PSC finds those costs were prudently and reasonably incurred.
When it takes effect
Effective immediately upon enactment.
Potential benefits
Ensures that financial windfalls and tax/fee refunds are returned to the consumer public instead of increasing utility profit margins.
Risks and tradeoffs
Potential for increased administrative costs to be passed through to consumers and the risk of litigation in PSC hearings regarding the validity of refund deductions.
What is still unknown
The specific mechanisms the PSC will use to determine the 'impracticability' of direct distribution remain undefined, leaving implementation details for regulatory action.
02
Impact analysis
✦ AI analysisModeled effects across six domains, estimated from bill text and comparable legislation.
Economy
Positive outlook
75%
Benefits
- Provides direct financial relief to ratepayers through refunds or credits
- Increases transparency in how utility costs are recovered
- Prevents utility companies from retaining ratepayer-funded capital as profit
Risks
- Increases administrative compliance costs for utility companies
- Potential for disputes regarding the reasonableness of refund-related expenses
- Reduces short-term cash liquidity for utilities navigating complex refund processes
Society
Positive outlook
80%
Benefits
- Improves equity by ensuring refunds reach those who originally bore the costs
- Provides stability for household budgets by returning over-collected utility funds
- Protects consumer interests against corporate profit-taking
Risks
- Complexity in tracking and identifying individual ratepayers for legacy refunds
- Potential for distribution delays due to administrative and hearing requirements
- Risk of disagreements over the most equitable method of refund distribution
Technology Industry
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified
Risks
- No material direct effect identified
Civic Accountability
Positive outlook
85%
Benefits
- Codifies a rebuttable presumption in favor of the public
- Mandates that the PSC document specific findings for any departure from the refund rule
- Prohibits the use of ratepayer-funded refunds for shareholder or profit-based activities
Risks
- Increases litigation intensity during PSC proceedings
- Places high evidentiary burdens on utilities to demonstrate service impairment
- Requires consistent and rigorous PSC monitoring to prevent circumvention
Public Health & Safety
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified
Risks
- No material direct effect identified
03
How trustworthy & consequential it is
Sourcing already shown above, this is what the analysis found worth flagging.
Source
LegiScan
Official bill text or data from LegiScan.
Confidence
High
Information is complete and verified.
Analysis basis
LegiScan full bill text
Source used for this bill's analysis.
Source note
Administrative costs associated with PSC hearings may be passed on to ratepayers, partially offsetting refund benefits.
Analysis scope
The bill applies specifically to utility refund sources under PSC jurisdiction.
04
Where it stands
Official record- IntroducedCurrent
- CommitteeUpcoming
- Chamber votesUpcoming
- Final agreementUpcoming
- GovernorUpcoming
- EnactedUpcoming
05
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06
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