Bill > A661

Introduced Session

This bill directs the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to study and prepare and submit, within six months of the effective date of the bill, to the Governor and Legislature, a written report which is to make findings which are to include the BPU's determination of whether the State's electric distribution system is maintained and operated by the electric public utilities in a manner that meets BPU standards and an assessment of the reliability State's electric distribution system through an application of other applicable standards. The BPU is also directed to provide recommendations to improve reliability. In conducting the study, the BPU is directed to: (1) assess each electric public utility's compliance with the standards adopted by the BPU pursuant to statute requiring that electric public utilities (a) furnish safe, adequate, and proper service, and (b) comply with standards concerning the inspection, maintenance, repair, and replacement of the distribution equipment and facilities of electric public utilities and standards for the operation, reliability, and safety of that equipment and facilities during periods of emergency or disaster, and (c) any other law, rule, regulation, or order concerning the reliability New Jersey's electric distribution system; and (2) conduct an assessment of the reliability of the State's electric distribution system in consideration of other applicable standards to include (a) a comparison of the performance of this State's distribution system as compared to that of other states, (b) an assessment of electric public utility restoration efforts in response to severe weather events and natural disasters, (c) the capability of the categories of utility poles located in the State to support distribution infrastructure during severe weather events and natural disasters, and (d) the implementation of applicable requirements of the National Electrical Code, the National Electrical Safety Code, the American National Standards Institute, and other applicable national and international standards with respect to the New Jersey's electric distribution infrastructure.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Paul Kanitra (R)*,  Greg McGuckin (R)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee (on 01/13/2026)

Official Document