Bill Text: NJ S1365 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires electric public utilities to prepare a study to better monitor street light outages.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-02-06 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Economic Growth Committee [S1365 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-S1365-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator RONALD L. RICE
District 28 (Essex)
SYNOPSIS
Requires electric public utilities to prepare a study to better monitor street light outages.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act requiring the public electric utilities to prepare a study to better monitor street light outages, and supplementing chapter 1A of Title 27 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Every electric public utility, as defined by section 3 of P.L.1999, c.23 (C.48:3-51), shall prepare and submit to the Commissioner of Transportation, the Commissioner of Community Affairs, and the President of the Board of Public Utilities, a written study, which sets forth and evaluates the options available to better monitor street light outages and repair within their service areas. The study shall present a complete and thorough description of each possible monitoring option, which shall include but not be limited to:
a. The technology to be utilized in each new monitoring system;
b. A detailed examination as to the extent to which each monitoring option shall be expected to identify each street light outage;
c. An assessment of the estimated costs of each monitoring option;
d. The estimated time of implementation of each monitoring option; and
e. For each monitoring option, the estimated time between identification of an outage and repair of an outage;
The study shall review the variety of public agencies and instrumentalities, such as the New Jersey Department of Transportation, the toll road authorities, counties, and municipalities, and of private entities such as developers, homeowner associations, and public utilities, that may be responsible for maintenance and repair of street lights. The study shall also include a preliminary recommendation as to which monitoring and repair option is most feasible and efficient in monitoring street light outages, and a summary of other possible monitoring options which were not considered in the study and the reasons why those options were not identified as feasible options to address street light outages.
2. The Commissioner of Transportation, after consultation with the Commissioner of Community Affairs and the President of the Board of Public Utilities, shall enact rules and regulations providing for the implementation of the option that best addresses the monitoring and repair of street light outages, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.).
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill directs every electric public utility doing business in New Jersey to prepare a study evaluating options to improve the monitoring of street light outages. This study, which is to be submitted to the Commissioner of Transportation, the Commissioner of Community Affairs, and the President of the Board of Public Utilities, shall contain a detailed description of each potential monitoring and repair option, an estimated cost of each option, an estimated time of implementation for each option, an estimated time for the repair of street lights with each option, and a preliminary recommendation as to which option would be best suited to address street light outages. The study will also include a summary of other possible monitoring options that were not considered and an explanation as to why those options were not considered.
The Commissioner of Transportation, after consultation with the Commissioner of Community Affairs and the President of the Board of Public Utilities, shall adopt rules and regulations that support the option that best addresses the monitoring and repair of street light outages. The Legislature recognizes functioning street lights are an important public safety concern.
