A 491 New York Assembly · 2025 Regular Session

Requires electric corporations build make-ready infrastructure

This bill requires electric utilities to cover most costs for installing infrastructure needed to charge public fleet vehicles (like government buses or school vans). It mandates utilities to pay 50%+ of customer-side infrastructure costs outside disadvantaged communities and 90%+ within them, while including all utility-owned installation costs in their rate base. These costs will be recovered through utility rates (not direct customer bills), with limited exceptions if a non-public fleet reduces its electric vehicles within 10 years. The policy directly affects electric utilities and public entities operating fleet vehicles, shifting infrastructure costs from fleet operators to all ratepayers.

Issues: ✓ Energy ✓ Transportation

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 8, 2025 Last action Jan 7, 2026

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What changed between versions

A491 → A491A · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill was amended to specifically target electric vehicle charging infrastructure for public serving fleet vehicles (state, municipal, and school-owned fleets). The changes clarify that utilities can recover costs for preparing sites for these fleets through rate bases rather than charging customers directly, and add protections against utilities recouping costs if public entities reduce their fleet size after receiving infrastructure incentives.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed from general electric vehicle charging infrastructure to specifically focus on public serving fleet vehicles, with new provisions addressing fleet size thresholds and incentives for public entities.

SCOPE

Changed the bill's purpose to specifically address infrastructure for public serving fleet vehicles rather than general electric vehicle charging.

DEFINITION

Added a definition for 'public serving fleet' covering vehicles owned, leased, or contracted by state, municipalities, public authorities, or school districts.

ELIGIBILITY

Modified cost recovery provisions to specifically apply to public serving fleets, with different treatment for disadvantaged community locations.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new requirement that utilities must recover costs from customers if a public entity reduces its fleet size within ten years of receiving infrastructure incentives.

Changed the minimum percentage of customer-owned make-ready costs utilities can recover in disadvantaged communities from one hundred percent to a minimum of ninety percent.

Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jan 7, 2026

Committee

REFERRED TO ENERGY

lower

May 29, 2025

Lower · Passed

PRINT NUMBER 491A

lower

May 29, 2025

Lower · Passed

AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO ENERGY

lower

Jan 8, 2025

Committee

REFERRED TO ENERGY

lower

1 primary · 3 co-sponsors