New York state Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara introduced legislation Thursday that would reform how members are appointed to the state Public Service Commission amid concerns over charges and utility profits.
According to Santabarabra, a Democrat from the Capital Region, those who sit on the Public Service Commission are currently chosen through a closed process.
His legislation would creates an independent screening committee to vet candidates, require a public slate of nominees, have the Legislature elect commissioners in joint session, keep utility insiders off the commission and require full financial and conflict-of-interest disclosures.
“This puts a system in place that’s independent, transparent, and accountable — so the people who decide our energy bills answer to the public,” Santabarbara said in a statement.
The Public Service Commission has been scrutinized lately over approving National Grid rate hikes last summer. And last month, Santabarabra asked the state comptroller’s office to investigate electric and gas delivery charges, saying a growing number of people in his district are reporting steep increases in delivery charges that can’t be explained by their energy usage.
“People are paying more even when they use less — because of delivery charges approved by the Commission,” Santabarbara said.
At the end of January, the state Senate passed legislation that aims to equip the Public Service Commission with resources to better evaluate the impact of utility providers’ actions on ratepayers.