Bill > A3179

Introduced Session

This bill requires the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to adopt rules and regulations requiring an electric public utility (utility) to identify each private well water and septic community (community) within the utility's service territory and to develop a priority service restoration plan for each community in the event of a sustained interruption following a major event. The rules and regulations are to require a utility to request from every residential customer, on an annual basis, information as to whether the residential customer relies on a private well for the provision of water at the customer's residence and whether livestock needing water are located at that residence. The bill provides that the rules and regulations adopted by the BPU are to require a utility to provide priority service restoration to a community after a major event resulting in a sustained interruption in accordance with the community's needs and with the characteristics of the geographic area in which utility service is to be restored. The purpose of this requirement is for these communities to receive the same priority service restoration as other facilities essential to the public welfare. Further, the rules and regulations are to require a utility to provide at least one watering station, which is to include, but not be limited to, bottled water, at least one water tanker truck, and any other water resource in accordance with the community's needs, including water for livestock, to a community after a major event resulting in a sustained interruption. Water is an essential element necessary for the existence of all life. During sustained interruptions in electric public utility service in this State, far too many private well water and septic communities are denied this essential element because the electric pumps used to access water supplies are inoperable. Access to water, for both humans and livestock, and functioning toilets are fundamental health and welfare concerns for the residents of these communities and deserve special priority from utilities. The bill defines "private well water and septic community" to mean a municipality within the utility's service territory where at least 40 percent of electric public utility residential customers rely on private well water at the customer's residence.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Aura Dunn (R)*,  Antwan McClellan (R),  Erik Simonsen (R), 

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

Official Document