ALBANY – Assembly Energy Committee Chairman Kevin Cahill (D-Kingston) has introduced legislation that would provide financial support for individuals to act as interveners in specific utility rate cases pending before the state Public Service Commission.

The bill has been approved by the Energy Committee.

“When it comes to setting utility rates in New York, the deck is stacked against the average consumer,” said Cahill.

His legislation would require a utility to provide a pool for funding residential rate payers’ participation in proceedings that are tied to a particular filing.  Individuals seeking to participate in utility proceedings must demonstrate the potential merits of their case and that their participation would cause undue financial hardship in order to receive funding up front from the PSC.

The PSC will hold hearings in Kingston and Poughkeepsie on Thursday about Central Hudson’s latest rate hike requests, which Cahill opposes.