New Jersey 2022-2023 Regular Session

New Jersey Senate Bill S1411

Introduced
2/10/22  

Caption

Requires electric public utilities to provide priority service restoration to age-restricted communities after major events.

Impact

The legislation requires the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to adopt regulations ensuring electric utilities offer priority service restoration after such interruptions. Utilities must request annual confirmation from residential customers regarding their status as part of an age-restricted community, granting them eligibility for priority restoration. This change aims to enhance the responsiveness to the needs of vulnerable populations, particularly the elderly, during emergencies, ensuring they receive prompt service when it is most critical.

Summary

Senate Bill S1411, introduced in New Jersey, mandates that electric public utilities prioritize service restoration for age-restricted communities following major events that lead to significant service interruption. The bill specifically characterizes an 'age-restricted community' as one intended for residents aged 55 and older and defines 'major events' as natural disasters or emergencies that affect a considerable portion of the utility services in a designated area. A sustained interruption is recognized as an outage lasting more than 48 hours due to these major events.

Contention

Notably, the bill also maintains that efforts to prioritize service restorations to age-restricted communities must not compromise overall public safety. This provision is significant, as it attempts to balance the needs of specific demographics with broader community safety requirements. Some potential points of contention could arise regarding the criteria used by utilities in prioritizing service restoration and the regulatory oversight provided by the BPU, potentially leading to discussions about equity in utility service provisioning.

Companion Bills

NJ A4601

Same As Requires electric public utilities to provide priority service restoration to age-restricted communities after major events.

Previously Filed As

NJ S811

Requires electric public utilities to provide priority service restoration to age-restricted communities after major events.

NJ A4601

Requires electric public utilities to provide priority service restoration to age-restricted communities after major events.

NJ A5653

Requires electric public utilities to develop service restoration plans for certain communities on well water or septic systems.

NJ A3179

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.

NJ A335

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.

NJ A4787

Requires electric public utilities to conduct wellness checks in age-restricted communities during power outages.

NJ S3218

Prohibits electric and gas public utilities from collecting payment from residential budget billing plan customers whose service was interrupted as a result of major emergency event.

NJ S2508

Prohibits electric and gas public utilities from collecting payment from residential budget billing plan customers whose service was interrupted as a result of major emergency event.

NJ A4498

Prohibits electric and gas public utilities from collecting payment from residential budget billing plan customers whose service was interrupted as a result of major emergency event.

NJ A331

Prohibits electric and gas public utilities from collecting payment from residential budget billing plan customers whose service was interrupted as a result of major emergency event.

Similar Bills

NJ A4601

Requires electric public utilities to provide priority service restoration to age-restricted communities after major events.

NJ S811

Requires electric public utilities to provide priority service restoration to age-restricted communities after major events.

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NJ A335

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.

NJ A3179

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.

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