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Bill > S3373
NJ S3373
NJ S3373Requires BPU to publish plain language summary of its final decision on rate increase filings.
summary
Introduced
02/05/2026
02/05/2026
In Committee
02/05/2026
02/05/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026-2027 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill requires the Board of Public Utilities to include in a board order with the board's final decision regarding a public utility's petition to increase the utility's individual rate, joint rate, toll, charge, or schedule a plain language summary of the board order. Under the bill, the summary is to include: (1) a summary of the contents of the utility's petition; (2) a justification for the board's final decision on the petition; (3) a statement of the petition's impact on affected customers, if any; (4) the utility's current individual rate, joint rate, toll, charge, or schedule, the new individual rate, joint rate, toll, charge, or schedule, and the total amount of increase; (5) the utility's rate of return; (6) if the increase is implemented to recover the costs of infrastructure or other investments, an expected period of time by which the utility plans to recover those costs; (7) when the new individual rate, joint rate, toll, charge, or schedule will take effect; and (8) any other information, as determined by the board. With this bill, the sponsor intends to ensure that consumers know what decisions are being made and how those decisions impact their utility rates and payments, especially at a time when utility rates are increasing. Language currently used in board orders makes it difficult for many consumers to fully understand the board orders' impact.
AI Summary
This bill requires the Board of Public Utilities (BPU), which is the state agency that oversees utility companies, to include a clear and easy-to-understand summary in its official decisions when a public utility, such as an electric or gas company, asks to raise its rates. This summary, which must be written in plain language, will explain what the utility requested, why the BPU made its final decision, how the decision will affect customers, the old and new rates, the total increase, the utility's profit margin (rate of return), and if the increase is for infrastructure projects, how long it will take to recover those costs. The bill also specifies when the new rates will start and allows the BPU to include any other relevant information, aiming to ensure that consumers can better understand decisions impacting their utility bills, especially during times of rising costs.
Committee Categories
Business and Industry
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Economic Growth Committee (on 02/05/2026)
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/S3373 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/S3500/3373_I1.HTM |
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