Bill > A3610

Introduced Session

This bill establishes the Department of Energy (department) as a principal department in the Executive Branch of State government. The administrator and chief executive officer of the department would be a commissioner, who would be known as the Commissioner of Energy, and be a person qualified by training and experience to perform the duties of the office. The commissioner would be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, and will serve at the pleasure of the Governor during the Governor's term of office and until the appointment and qualification of the commissioner's successor. In addition to the commissioner's designated duties, the commissioner would appoint a deputy commissioner, who will perform duties as are assigned by the commissioner and whose appointment will be subject to the Governor's approval. The department would, amongst other things, provide a unified direction of policies, programs, and personnel in the field of energy and develop plans for responding to energy crises and securing energy systems in the State. The department would also oversee energy-related programs such as the State's electric vehicle incentives and support State agencies in providing clean energy to New Jerseyans. This bill transfers certain responsibilities and programs from the Board of Public Utilities to the department, including the Office of the BPU Business Ombudsman. The bill also transfers the Division of Energy Planning and Conservation to the department. The bill reflects certain responsibilities to the division such as the collection and analysis of energy information relevant to the State's energy planning and energy emergency preparedness. Finally, the bill amends and repeals various parts of the statutory law to reflect the department's duties and responsibilities established pursuant to the bill's provisions.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Lou Greenwald (D)*, 

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

Official Document