Bill > S3399

Introduced Session

This bill would require the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to establish, by board order, a virtual power plant program to reduce peak demand for electric energy and provide other services to electric customers. As defined by the bill, "virtual power plant" means an aggregation of distributed energy resources, e.g., residential solar systems, behind-the-meter energy storage systems, or electric vehicle charging systems, enrolled either directly with an electric public utility or indirectly through a distributed energy resource (DER) aggregator, that are operated in coordination to provide one or more grid services. The purpose of the program would be to reduce system peak demand, increase resource adequacy, reduce or defer the need for costly distribution system infrastructure upgrades, and help maintain grid reliability through virtual power plant services provided by DER aggregators in the State. The program would be required to be designed with a target for peak demand reduction of 500 megawatts by 2030. The bill would require the BPU to establish minimum requirements for the program, but electric public utilities would be responsible for the program's implementation. However, the bill would require that any direct control of electricity customers' electricity usage or storage would be by third-party DER aggregators, rather than by electric utilities. Under the bill, each electric public utility would be required to file an implementation and reporting plan with the BPU, as well as an annual report.

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Andrew Zwicker (D)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Economic Growth Committee (on 02/09/2026)

Official Document