New York Codes, Rules and Regulations
Title 9 - EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
Subtitle A - Governor's Office
Chapter I - Executive Orders
Part 5 - Executive Orders (George E. Pataki)
Section 5.19 - Executive order no. 19: discontinuing access by the citizens' utility board to state agency mailings

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 52, December 24, 2024

WHEREAS, the State of New York has assigned the responsibility of representing the interests of utility ratepayers in utility matters to several State agencies, including the Department of Public Service, Consumer Protection Board and Department of Law;

WHEREAS, the citizens of the State of New York pay the expenses of these State agencies, including the costs of representing utility ratepayers in utility matters;

WHEREAS, access by private organizations to State agency mailings imposes additional administrative burdens and costs on State government at an additional cost to taxpayers and this duplicates the contributions made to the expenses of the State agencies that represent ratepayers in utility matters;

WHEREAS, utility ratepayers have formed private associations to represent their interests in utility matters before State agencies and the work of these associations is an effective and direct method of advancing such interests;

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this State to foster and encourage multiple and diverse associations of utility ratepayers in utility matters to have access to the regulatory process in order to encourage the consideration of the multiple interests represented by these associations;

WHEREAS, the Citizens' Utility Board, one of the entities representing the interests of utility customers, has had access to State agency mailings; and

WHEREAS, the provisions of special State privileges providing access to State agency mailings to only one consumer entity is contrary to the State's policy of encouraging multiple and diverse associations and allowing citizens the opportunity of direct access to State government;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE E. PATAKI, Governor of the State of New York, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and Laws of the State of New York, do hereby order as follows: