Mandates budget expenditures by gas and electric corporations to improve power outage response and to stormproof power lines

S 4429 requires gas and electric corporations in New York to dedicate 40% of their operating budget starting in 2026 to strengthen power systems against storms and outages. This includes hardening infrastructure, improving response times, and clearing trees near power lines to reduce outages. Corporations must submit quarterly reports to the Public Service Commission documenting compliance and include this evidence when requesting rate increases. The law aims to make power lines more resilient statewide, with the first reports due April 1, 2026.