Bill Text: NJ S596 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Requires public utilities to mail customers detailed explanation of rate settlement agreements prior to final BPU vote.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-09 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Economic Growth Committee [S596 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2024-S596-Introduced.html

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SENATE, No. 596

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

221st LEGISLATURE

 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION

 

 

Sponsored by:

Senator  LATHAM TIVER

District 8 (Atlantic and Burlington)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Requires public utilities to mail customers detailed explanation of rate settlement agreements prior to final BPU vote.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.

  

An Act concerning public utility rate settlement agreements, and supplementing Title 48 of the Revised Statutes.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    a.  A public utility shall, upon arriving at a rate settlement agreement, the approval of which would increase individual rates, tolls, charges, or schedules of a public utility, notify customers in the service area affected by the settlement by direct mail prior to the final settlement decision before the Board of Public Utilities.  The notification shall provide an explanation of the proposed settlement, including a detailed justification of the basis for the proposed settlement.

     b.    For the purposes of this section, "public utility" means a public utility as defined in R.S.48:2-13, providing gas, electric, water, or sewer service.

 

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill requires a public utility to, upon arriving at a rate settlement agreement, the approval of which would increase individual rates, tolls, charges, or schedules of a public utility, notify customers in the service area affected by the settlement by direct mail prior to the final settlement decision before the Board of Public Utilities.  The notification shall provide an explanation of the proposed settlement, including a detailed justification of the basis for the proposed settlement.