New Jersey Assembly Bill A335

New Jersey 2022-2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/11/22
• Refer: 1/11/22

Caption

Requires electric public utility to identify communities within service territory where at least 40 percent of residential customers rely on private well water, develop service restoration plan for those communities, and provide watering stations.

Impact

The bill's enactment has the potential to significantly alter how electric public utilities manage service disruptions in areas that depend on private well water. Specifically, it requires utilities to prioritize the restoration of services to these communities, ensuring they receive the same level of attention as other essential facilities. Additionally, the utilities must create annual reporting mechanisms to gather information about residential dependencies on private wells, which will inform future service restoration strategies. This could lead to improved preparedness and response mechanisms in times of crisis, ultimately safeguarding public health and welfare.

Summary

Assembly Bill A335 seeks to enhance the response of electric public utilities to communities reliant on private well water during major disruptions. It mandates the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to establish guidelines that require these utilities to identify communities where at least 40% of residential customers use private wells for water. A critical component of this legislation is the development of a priority service restoration plan designed to address the unique needs of these communities during sustained service interruptions due to major events such as hurricanes or snowstorms.

Contention

Points of contention surrounding this bill may include concerns about the feasibility of effectively implementing such regulations across different regions, especially in rural areas where infrastructure varies widely. Moreover, there could be debates on the adequacy of resources allocated for reaching out to these communities and providing necessary services during outages. Stakeholders may also discuss the impacts of such regulations on utility operations and operational costs, which could, in turn, affect customer rates in the long term.