Bill > A4573

Introduced Session

This bill would require an electric public utility to reimburse a residential customer for the cost of food and prescription medicine that spoils or is compromised as a result of a sustained power outage. Under the bill, a customer whose food spoils due to a lack of refrigeration caused by a sustained power outage would be entitled to a reimbursement of up to $500 for the amount paid for the food that spoiled. A customer whose prescription medicine is compromised due to a lack of refrigeration caused by a sustained power outage would be entitled to a reimbursement of up to $1,000 for the amount paid for the prescription medicine that is compromised. In both cases, a customer would be required to submit to the electric public utility an itemized list of losses and proof of loss, as specified in the bill. No later than 90 days after the effective date of the bill, each electric public utility in the State would be required to develop and implement a system for customers of the electric public utility to apply for a reimbursement online via the electric public utility's Internet website. Applications for a reimbursement would be made in a form and manner as determined by the Board of Public Utilities. The board would be authorized to adopt rules and regulations necessary to implement the bill.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

John Catalano (R)*,  Greg McGuckin (R)*,  Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee (on 08/25/2020)