New Jersey Assembly Bill A1345

New Jersey 2022-2023 Regular Session

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

Caption

Prohibits water companies from assessing more than one charge per fire hydrant to fire departments, fire districts, or volunteer fire companies for use of fire hydrants.

Impact

Should A1345 be enacted, it would significantly alter the current landscape of water utility tariffs by limiting fees associated with fire hydrants. The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities would be mandated to adhere to this guideline, effectively preventing water companies from generating additional revenue through multiple charges on these necessary services. This reform aims to promote fairer cost structures for emergency services, allowing them to allocate their budgets more effectively without the burden of excessive fees from water utilities.

Summary

Assembly Bill A1345 aims to amend existing regulations concerning water company charges, specifically addressing the fees related to the use of fire hydrants by various fire services. The bill prohibits water companies from imposing more than one charge per fire hydrant on periodic billing statements for fire departments, fire districts, or volunteer fire companies. This change seeks to alleviate financial burdens on these essential emergency services, ensuring they are not charged multiple fees for the use of fire hydrants which are critical to community safety and firefighting efforts.

Contention

While support for A1345 may stem from a desire to promote fiscal responsibility among emergency services, there may be contention surrounding the bill from water companies who could perceive the limitation on fees as a restriction on their revenue generation abilities. Stakeholders may also debate the ramifications this bill could have on the overall funding and maintenance of water infrastructure necessary to support fire protection services, as reduced revenues might potentially affect utility operations and their capacity to invest in public safety measures.