Expands the definition of major utility transmission facility to include a facility in which electric current is transformed from the transmission system to the distribution system or a facility within the distribution system that is larger than five hundred square feet and in which electric current is transformed.

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S3076-2013 Actions

• Jan 29, 2013: REFERRED TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

S3076-2013 Memo

BILL NUMBER:S3076

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the public service law, in relation to
the siting of electric substations

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF THE BILL: Provides for a review by the
Public Service Commission of the siting of electric substations.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS: The bill amends Article VII of the
Public Service Law ("Siting of Transmission Facilities") to include a
"a facility in which electric current is transformed from the
transmission system to the distribution system or a facility within
the distribution system that is larger than five hundred square feet
and in which electric current is transformed" within the definition of
a "transmission facility." This would extend all the requirements of
Article VII to electric substations.

Article VII sets out a procedure for the granting of a certificate of
environmental capability and public need before a facility can be
built. This procedure includes environmental impact studies, public
hearings, and judicial review of the decision.

JUSTIFICATION: Siting a substation is within the unreviewed discretion
of a utility. No procedure exists for the siting of electric
substations, even though a utility can take property for a substation
site by condemnation. These substations can have significant impacts
on the surrounding communities, especially in densely populated areas.
Substations generate electro-magnetic fields, which are thought by
some to increase the risk of certain cancers.

Electric substations should be subject to Public Service Commission
review, just as power plants and transmission lines are.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:  2003-04: A.8239 - referred to Corporations
Committee 2005: A4118 - referred to Corporations Committee 2006: A4118
- reported Rules Committee 2007: A5474 - referred to Corporations
Committee 2008: A5474 - reported Rules Committee 2009: A6007 -
referred Corporations Committee 2010: A6007 - reported to Ways and
Means

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: Minimal.

EFFECTIVE DATE:  Immediately.

S3076-2013 Text

                      S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
  ________________________________________________________________________

                                    3076

                         2013-2014 Regular Sessions

                              I N  SENATE

                              January 29, 2013
                                 ___________

  Introduced  by  Sen. HOYLMAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
    printed to be committed to the Committee on  Energy  and  Telecommuni-
    cations

  AN  ACT  to  amend  the public service law, in relation to the siting of
    electric substations

    THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
  BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


    Section  1. Subdivision 2 of section 120 of the public service law, as
  amended by chapter 538 of the laws  of  1981,  is  amended  to  read  as
  follows:

    2. "Major utility transmission facility" means: (a) an electric trans-
  mission  line  of a design capacity of one hundred twenty-five kilovolts
  or more extending a distance of one mile or  more,  or  of  one  hundred
  kilovolts  or  more  and  less  than  one hundred twenty-five kilovolts,
  extending a distance of ten miles or more, including  associated  equip-
  ment,  but  shall  not include any such transmission line located wholly
  underground in a city with a population in excess of one  hundred  twen-
  ty-five  thousand or a primary transmission line approved by the federal
  energy regulatory commission in connection with a hydro-electric facili-
  ty; [and] (b) a fuel gas transmission line extending a distance  of  one
  thousand  feet  or more to be used to transport fuel gas at pressures of
  one hundred twenty-five pounds per square inch or more, excluding appur-
  tenant facilities, but shall not  include  any  such  transmission  line
  which is located wholly underground in a city or wholly within the right
  of  way  of  a  state, county or town highway or village street as those
  terms are defined in article one of the highway law and article  six  of
  the  village  law,  or  which  replaces  an  existing transmission line,
  including appurtenant facilities, and extends a distance  of  less  than
  one  mile;  AND  (C) A FACILITY IN WHICH ELECTRIC CURRENT IS TRANSFORMED
  FROM THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM TO THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM  OR  A  FACILITY
  WITHIN  THE  DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM THAT IS LARGER THAN FIVE HUNDRED SQUARE
  FEET AND IN WHICH ELECTRIC CURRENT IS TRANSFORMED.
    S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

   EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                        [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                             LBD01239-01-3