The debate over the future of New York’s retail energy market continues to heat up, with several bills addressing the role of third-party energy suppliers recently introduced into the New York State Assembly.

Two of the proposed measures seek to limit ESCOs role in the market. A9593 would repeal ESCOs’ sales tax exemption on the delivery of electricity and natural gas. A9652 would add language to the current state statutes (governing wheeling) in order to limit the sale of electricity or natural gas by ESCOs to non-residential customers only.

Supporters of the measures, including Assembly Member Dinowitz (who introduced both bills), and Assembly Members Cook, Ortiz, Steck, and Zebrowski, cite the need to protect residential consumers from deceptive marketing, and criticize the current sales tax exemption as a distorting factor on the energy markets and prices.

Less certain, however, is the timeline or likelihood of the two bills clearing the committee  (both are currently in the Energy Committee) and moving to a vote.