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Bill > S1174
NJ S1174
NJ S1174Prohibits electric and gas public utilities from collecting payment from residential budget billing plan customers whose service was interrupted as a result of major emergency event.
summary
Introduced
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026-2027 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill directs the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to prohibit any electric or gas public utility (utility) from charging a residential customer (customer) for electric or gas utility service who participates in a budget billing plan offered by the utility, as provided by any BPU rule or regulation, if the customer incurred a service interruption due to the customer having sustained damage to the customer's residence from the effects of a "major emergency event," as that term is defined in the bill, until such time service is restored. This prohibition does not extend to any utility collecting from a customer, pursuant to law, payment for utility service rendered prior to the date of the major emergency event.
AI Summary
This bill directs the Board of Public Utilities (BPU), a state agency that oversees utility companies, to prevent electric and gas companies from charging residential customers who are on a budget billing plan for service during a major emergency event that causes damage to their homes and results in a service interruption. A "budget billing plan" is a payment arrangement where customers pay a set monthly amount based on their average usage. A "major emergency event" is defined as a natural or human-caused incident, such as a storm or flood, that significantly disrupts service for at least five percent of a utility's customers in an area or leads to a declared state of emergency. The prohibition on charging applies until service is restored, but utilities can still collect payments for service provided *before* the major emergency event.
Committee Categories
Business and Industry
Sponsors (2)
Last Action
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Economic Growth Committee (on 01/13/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/S1174 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/S1500/1174_I1.HTM |
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