Bill
Bill > A3422
NJ A3422
NJ A3422Establishes limits for electric public utility rate increases for low- and middle-income households.
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 establishes limits for electric public utility rate increases for eligible households. Specifically, under the bill, an electric public utility is prohibited from increasing its rates for low- and middle-income households that are also residential households by more than the all-items index for the previous calendar year. The bill provides that an electric public utility that fails to comply with this prohibition is to be fined an amount and subject to any other penalties to be determined by the board. Finally, the bill requires an electric public utility to report the following information to the board: (1) the number of eligible households that benefit from the program; (2) the financial impact of the program on the electric public utility; and (3) recommendations for adjustments to the program. The board is then required, on an annual basis, to issue a report to the Legislature that summarizes the information it receives from an electric public utility under the bill. Under the bill, "all-items index" means the rate of inflation for all items, as determined by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics in its Consumer Price Index reports; "low-income household" means a household with a total, annual household income that is equal to or less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level, as that level is updated annually by the United States Department of Health and Human Services; and "middle-income household" means a household with a total, annual household income that is equal to or less than 400 percent of the federal poverty level, as that level is updated annually by the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
AI Summary
This bill establishes limits on how much electric public utility rates can increase for low- and middle-income households, defining "low-income household" as earning up to 200% of the federal poverty level and "middle-income household" as earning up to 400% of the federal poverty level, with these levels updated annually by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Specifically, electric companies are prohibited from raising rates for these eligible residential households by more than the "all-items index," which represents the rate of inflation for all goods and services as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in its Consumer Price Index. Utilities that fail to comply will face fines and other penalties determined by the Board of Public Utilities, which is the state agency overseeing public utilities. Furthermore, electric utilities must annually report to the board the number of households benefiting from this program, the program's financial impact on the utility, and any recommendations for program adjustments, and the board will then submit a summary report of this information to the Legislature each year.
Committee Categories
Transportation and Infrastructure
Sponsors (2)
Last Action
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities 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/A3422 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/A3500/3422_I1.HTM |
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