NY Pub Serv L § 39 (2021)
2021 New York Laws PBS - Public Service Article 2 - Residential Gas, Electric and Steam Utility Service 39 - Meter Reading and Estimated Bills.

§ 39. Meter  reading and estimated bills.  1. A utility corporation or   municipality may, in accordance with such requirements as the commission   may impose by regulation, render  an  estimated  bill  for  any  billing   period  if:  (a)  the procedure used by such utility or municipality for   calculating estimated bills has been approved by the commission, and the   bill clearly indicates that it is based on an estimated reading and  (b)   the  utility  owning  the  meter and providing the meter reading data on   which the estimated bill will be based  or  the  municipality  has  made   reasonable effort to obtain an actual meter reading or (c) circumstances   beyond the control of the utility or municipality made an actual reading   of  the  meter  extremely  difficult  or  (d)  circumstances  indicate a   reported reading is likely to be erroneous, or (e) an estimated  reading   is  prescribed  or  authorized  by  the  commission for a billing period   between periods when actual meter readings are scheduled or for seasonal   or short term customers.2. Where a utility corporation owning the meter  and  supplying  meter   reading  data  for  a  bill  or a municipality fails to gain access to a   meter for a period of four months or two billing periods,  whichever  is   greater,  the  corporation or municipality shall take reasonable actions   to obtain an actual meter reading. Such additional actions may  include,   but  not  be limited to: making an appointment with the customer or such   other person who controls access to the meter for a reading  at  a  time   other  than  within  normal  business  hours,  offering the customer the   opportunity to phone in a meter reading, or  providing  a  card  to  the   customer  on  which  he or she may record the reading and mail it to the   utility or municipality.3. Where a  utility  corporation  or  municipality  has  submitted  an   estimated  bill or bills to a residential customer, and such estimate or   estimates significantly understate the actual amount of  money  owed  by   such  customer,  the customer shall have the right to pay the difference   between the estimated charges and the actual charges in regular  monthly   installments over a reasonable period. The commission shall establish by   regulation  the minimum amount for any such underbilling, and the length   of any such period; provided, however, that no such  installment  period   shall be less than three months.4.  Upon discontinuation of utility service to a residential customer,   a gas or electric corporation shall notify such customer of their  right   to  an  actual meter reading. It shall be the right of every residential   customer of a gas or electric corporation, upon the  discontinuation  of   utility  service,  to  obtain,  upon request, an actual meter reading by   such  customer's  gas  or  electric  corporation.  A  gas  or   electric   corporation  shall  provide  such  a reading within forty-eight hours of   such request, provided that if circumstances beyond the control  of  the   gas  or  electric  corporation  make  an  actual  reading  of  the meter   extremely difficult, such corporation shall not be required  to  provide   an  actual  meter  reading.  A  gas or electric corporation shall not be   required to provide  a  physical  meter  reading  during  a  holiday  or   non-work  day,  but shall instead provide such meter reading on the next   workday.