ALBANY -- An inquiry by the state into the electrocution of a pedestrian by a Consolidated Edison power service box has led to a proposal that all utilities in New York test light poles, manholes and other facilities for stray voltage.

The state Public Service Commission told all utilities they have until Oct. 4 to respond to a staff proposal that power companies annually test all equipment that the public might come in contact with for stray voltage. The plan would require prompt repair of any equipment where stray voltage is detected, and it sets up a system where utilities must report to the PSC within one hour when people are injured by shocks from utility equipment.

The PSC said the statewide proposal stemmed from its staff's investigation of the Jan. 16 electrocution of Jodie Lane as she walked her dogs in Manhattan. Consolidated Edison said Lane was killed after stepping on the metal cover of a service box that was electrified due to an improperly insulated wire.

In the course of reviewing Lane's death, the staff of the PSC concluded that the problem of stray voltage "is not unique to Con Edison's service territory" and that other utilities should be subject to heightened testing requirements.

"Stray voltage can exist on almost any facility that conducts electricity and comes into contact with cables carrying electric current," the PSC said.

It noted that following Lane's highly publicized death and Con Edison's subsequent testing of its light poles, service boxes and other equipment, only two upstate utilities voluntarily conducted similar testing of its facilities.

The Niagara Mohawk Power Corp. corrected stray voltage it detected at 190 of the 23,451 locations it tested as of May 1 and the company said it expected to finish testing all 52,219 of its light poles by the end of this month. Orange and Rockland Utilities reported finding no stray electricity after testing all the metallic street light poles it owns.

But the PSC singled out the Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp., the Rochester Gas and Electric Corp. and the New York State Electric & Gas Co. for criticism for failing to conduct any testing after Lane's death.