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Bill > A501


NJ A501

NJ A501
Establishes uniform rates for water and sewer services for residential use based exclusively on metered consumption.


summary

Introduced
01/09/2024
In Committee
01/09/2024
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/12/2026

Introduced Session

2024-2025 Regular Session

Bill Summary

This bill requires local public authorities that charge for water and sewer services to base residential customers' bills exclusively upon metered consumption. Under current law, local public authorities providing water and sewer services may establish charges for those services based on any number of factors, including consumption, the number and type of water outlets, the number and type of plumbing fixtures or facilities, the number of persons residing on the property, the capacity of fixtures, or any other factors determining the type, class, and amount of water or sewer use. In addition, this bill permits local public authorities and local units to establish a tiered system of rates, through which a local unit may charge different rates based upon the total metered units of water consumed on or in connection with the real property in a billing cycle. The bill exempts residential customers with separate outdoor water or sewer accounts from charges for sewer disposal services recorded by meters tied to the outdoor account or that resulted from the disposal of water obtained from an outdoor source. Essentially, a resident with a separate outdoor account is not to be responsible for sewer service charges related to the resident's use of water from an outdoor source. This bill takes effect immediately, except with respect to local public authorities and local units that do not have meters installed on the effective date of this bill. For those entities, the provisions of the bill are to become operative as soon as technically feasible, but not later than the first day of the fourth year next following enactment.

AI Summary

This bill establishes uniform rates for residential water and sewer services based exclusively on metered consumption. Under current law, local public authorities and municipalities can base charges on various factors, including the number of people, fixtures, or outlets. This bill requires residential rates to be uniform and computed solely on metered water usage, except for customers with separate outdoor water accounts who will not be charged sewer fees for that outdoor usage. The bill also allows for tiered rate structures based on total metered consumption. The bill takes immediate effect but remains inoperative for authorities and municipalities without meters installed, becoming effective for them as soon as feasible but no later than four years after enactment.

Committee Categories

Transportation and Infrastructure

Sponsors (1)

Last Action

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee (on 01/09/2024)

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