Bill > S341

This bill requires public utilities, specifically those providing gas, electric, water, or sewer service, to notify their customers about any proposed increase in rates, tolls, or charges. This notice must be provided in writing, either as part of or accompanying customer bills, and also published in a newspaper in each county where the utility operates, at least a reasonable time before any hearing on the proposed increase. For customers who don't receive monthly bills or receive them electronically, the notice will be sent via regular mail or electronically. Additionally, the bill revises the requirements for public hearings on rate increases, mandating that if a proposed adjustment affects multiple municipalities within a service area, the hearing must be held in the municipality with the largest population in that area, and if multiple counties are affected, a hearing must be held in the most populous municipality of each affected county. The bill also ensures that the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) and the Office of Administrative Law (OAL) will receive and consider public questions and comments during these hearings, and that the utility and the BPU will make efforts to address them.