§ 53-A — Prohibition of utilities engaging in detrimental conduct towards a residential customer

§ 53-a. Prohibition of utilities engaging in detrimental conduct\ntowards a residential customer. 1. A utility corporation or\nmunicipality, or energy services companies subject to the department's\nuniform business practices and section three hundred forty-nine and\nthree hundred forty-nine-d of the general business law, also known as\nESCOs, shall not engage in any conduct the natural consequence of which\nis to harass, oppress, or abuse any residential customer in connection\nwith the handling of a residential customer complaint, the offering\nand/or negotiating of a deferred payment agreement, or the collection of\nan unpaid balance or any other obligation owed by such customer.\n 2. All utilities or municipal utilities or ESCOs in violation of this\nsection shall be subject to fines, penalties and enforcement by the\ndepartment pursuant to sections twenty-four, twenty-five, twenty-five-a,\nand twenty-six of this chapter, and all such other legal or equitable\nremedies as may be necessary or convenient for protection of consumers\nagainst the prohibited behaviors described in subdivision one of this\nsection.\n 3. The commission shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to\nimplement and enforce the provisions of this section.\n