§ 778-aa. Home heating system conversion. 1. All home improvement
contractors as defined in subdivision five of section seven hundred
seventy of this chapter or any other person providing an estimate or
engaged in the installation of home heating systems shall include in any
estimate of the cost of converting an existing oil home heating system
to a natural gas, electric or any other home heating system a separate
estimate detailing the costs related to the closure, abandonment and/or
removal of a home heating oil storage tank. In addition, any person
making such estimate shall also provide a copy of any applicable local
law, or if there is no local law then such person shall provide a
written statement to that effect.
2. Every estimate of the cost to secure a storage tank as part of a
home heating system conversion shall include the removal of all fill and
vent pipes and such other related materials and/or equipment.
3. Upon entering into an agreement for the conversion of an existing
home heating system from an oil home heating system to an alternative
method of home heating, and prior to the commencement of the new home
heating service, any home improvement contractor installing the
alternate home heating system shall provide to the homeowner a written
copy of the notice created by the department of state pursuant to
subdivision five of this section, in no less than 14 point bold type and
separate from any other document provided to such homeowner and provide
as may be required by state or local law, written notice of the
agreement for the conversion of an existing home heating system to the
municipal code enforcement official having authority to enforce the New
York state uniform fire prevention and building code, or local code
applicable to cities with a population of one million or more, whichever
code applies to the jurisdiction in which the home heating system is
located.
4. (a) Prior to the commencement of the new home heating service, the
property owner shall provide written notice to such property owner's
heating oil supplier or suppliers to inform them of such conversion to
an alternate fuel prior to the commencement of the new home heating
service.
(b) The department of state shall have the authority to promulgate any
rules or regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this
subdivision.
5. The department of state shall create and make available to the
public on the department's website a notice informing homeowners who are
converting their existing oil home heating system to an alternative
method of home heating of the provisions of subdivision thirteen of
section three hundred seventy-eight of the executive law, in addition to
any other state laws, rules, or regulations related to the closure,
abandonment, and/or removal of a heating oil storage tank, including
fill and vent pipes and other related materials and equipment. Such
notice shall include information to inform the homeowner that the
homeowner shall provide written notice to his or her home heating oil
supplier to inform such supplier of such conversion prior to the
commencement of the new home heating service, and shall also advise the
homeowner that there may be other local laws related to such conversion.