N.Y. Transportation Corporations Law § 16

§ 16. No rent for meters to be charged. No gas corporation, electric\ncorporation or gas and electric corporation directly or indirectly shall\ncharge or collect rent on its gas meters, and any person, or corporation\nviolating this provision shall be liable to a penalty of fifty dollars\nfor each offense, to be sued for and recovered in the corporate name of\nthe city, town or village where the violation occurs, in any court\nhaving jurisdiction, and when collected to be paid into the treasury of\nsuch city, town or village and to constitute a part of the contingent or\ngeneral fund thereof.\n