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Bill > A5733


NJ A5733

NJ A5733
Provides for State agency reviews and increases of income thresholds for residential customers to participate in certain utility bill payment assistance and energy efficiency programs.


summary

Introduced
05/15/2025
In Committee
05/29/2025
Crossed Over
05/22/2025
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2024-2025 Regular Session

Bill Summary

This bill requires the Department of Community Affairs, Department of Human Services, Board of Public Utilities (BPU), and any other State agency that administers a utility bill payment assistance program or energy efficiency program to, within one year of the bill's effective date, complete a review of the program, as provided for in the bill, and increase the income threshold if the department, board, or agency determines an increase to be appropriate. The bill requires that a State agency request public comment, in a form and manner determined by that State agency, or seek assistance from other State agencies, to determine an appropriate increase to the program's income threshold. The bill further specifies that if an increase in income thresholds for the State's low-income energy efficiency programs is ordered, the BPU is required to assess if further guidance is necessary to change income thresholds in the utilities' triennium energy efficiency and peak demand reduction programs for moderate-income energy efficiency programs to ensure that low- and moderate-income customers are eligible for only one energy efficiency assistance program and to expand access to moderate-income programs, if appropriate.

AI Summary

This bill requires several New Jersey state agencies, including the Department of Community Affairs, Department of Human Services, and Board of Public Utilities (BPU), to review and potentially increase income thresholds for utility bill payment assistance and energy efficiency programs within one year of the bill's effective date. The agencies must consider factors such as the alignment of income thresholds across different programs, the use of alternate income measures like state median income, and the potential cost and impact of increasing these thresholds. The agencies are instructed to seek public input or collaborate with other state agencies to determine appropriate income threshold increases. If increases are made to low-income energy efficiency program thresholds, the BPU must also assess whether additional guidance is needed for moderate-income energy efficiency programs to ensure that low- and moderate-income customers do not overlap in multiple assistance programs and to potentially expand access to moderate-income programs. The bill will automatically expire after the final income threshold increase is implemented by a state agency.

Committee Categories

Housing and Urban Affairs

Sponsors (7)

Last Action

Received in the Senate, Referred to Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee (on 05/29/2025)

bill text


bill summary

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bill summary

Document Type Source Location
State Bill Page https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/A5733
Fiscal Note - Fiscal Estimate 5/27/25; as introduced https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2024/A6000/5733_E1.PDF
BillText https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2024/A6000/5733_I1.HTM
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