Orange and Rockland Announces Extreme Heat Protections for Electric Customers for Extreme Heat Events The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) recently approved a comprehensive statewide policy regarding extreme heat customer protection. This will provide protections from termination to residential customers’ electrical service for non-payment during extreme heat events. These rules go into effect June 1, 2026. The new rules do the following: • Implement uniform extreme heat protections for residential electric customers and residential end-use customers in multi-unit dwellings. • Halt service terminations due to non-payment on any day with a forecasted or actual heat index reaching or exceeding 90 degrees. • Provide protections in areas identified as heat islands by halting service terminations in heat islands due to non-payment the two days following any day reaching or exceeding a heat index of 90 degrees. • Standardize the administrative processes. For more information and the full set of new requirements, the Commission’s decision may be obtained by going to the Commission Documents section of the Commission’s website at www.dps.ny.gov and entering Case Number 24-M-0586 in the input box labeled "Search for Case/Matter Number." Commission documents may also be obtained from the Commission’s Files Office, 14th floor, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12223 (518-474-2500). ORANGE AND ROCKLAND UTILITIES, INC.
