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Bill > S2387


NJ S2387

NJ S2387
Requires electric public utilities to provide priority service restoration to age-restricted communities after major events.


summary

Introduced
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2026-2027 Regular Session

Bill Summary

This bill requires the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to adopt rules and regulations requiring an electric public utility (utility) to provide priority utility service restoration, when possible, following a major event resulting in a sustained interruption of utility service to an age-restricted community. The bill requires the BPU to allow a utility to exercise its discretion to prioritize utility service restoration to an age-restricted community after a major event resulting in a sustained interruption of utility service in accordance with the an age-restricted community's needs and the characteristics of the geographic area in which that service is to be restored. The bill requires a utility to request from every residential customer, on an annual basis, information as to whether the residential customer's address is located within an age-restricted community. If a residential customer responds to the utility's request for that information in the affirmative, the utility is to designate that residential customer as eligible for priority utility service restoration. Any priority utility service restoration efforts to an age-restricted community is not to divert efforts to restore utility service where needed to otherwise maintain overall public safety.

AI Summary

This bill mandates that electric public utilities, which are companies providing electricity distribution, must prioritize restoring power to age-restricted communities, defined as planned developments for individuals aged 55 and older, after a major event causes a sustained interruption of service lasting over 48 hours. The Board of Public Utilities (BPU), the state agency overseeing utilities, will establish rules for this priority restoration, allowing utilities discretion to consider the specific needs of these communities and their geographic areas, but importantly, these efforts will not compromise overall public safety restoration. To implement this, utilities will annually ask residential customers if they live in an age-restricted community, and those who confirm will be designated for priority restoration.

Committee Categories

Business and Industry

Sponsors (1)

Last Action

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Economic Growth Committee (on 01/13/2026)

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