New Jersey 2024-2025 Regular Session

New Jersey Assembly Bill A761

Introduced
1/9/24  

Caption

Requires public utility to reimburse business customer during period when business ceases operations due to utility repairing or replacing its equipment on business customer's property.

Impact

The legislation is designed to strengthen the accountability of public utilities towards their business customers, effectively establishing a legal framework for reimbursement. The Board of Public Utilities (BPU) will oversee the reimbursement process, determining the total financial losses based on documentation provided by the business customers. This oversight aims to ensure fairness and transparency in the reimbursement procedures, enhancing trust between businesses and utilities.

Summary

Assembly Bill A761 aims to mandate that public utilities reimburse business customers for financial losses incurred during the periods when those businesses must cease operations due to repairs or replacements required by the utility on the customer's property. This bill is particularly relevant to businesses that might face significant operational disruptions due to service interruptions caused by utility constraints.

Contention

However, notable contention surrounds the bill's exclusion of reimbursements for losses incurred during so-called 'emergency events.' These events are described as natural or human-induced occurrences, such as severe weather conditions or disasters, that are beyond the control of the utilities and result in service interruptions affecting a large portion of their customers. Critics argue that the broad definition of emergency events could result in utilities avoiding their reimbursement obligations in more scenarios than expected, potentially putting businesses at risk during difficult times.

Companion Bills

NJ S445

Same As Requires public utility to reimburse business customer during period when business ceases operations due to utility repairing or replacing its equipment on business customer's property.

NJ S116

Carry Over Requires public utility to reimburse business customer during period when business ceases operations due to utility repairing or replacing its equipment on business customer's property.

NJ A1616

Carry Over Requires public utility to reimburse business customer during period when business ceases operations due to utility repairing or replacing its equipment on business customer's property.

Previously Filed As

NJ S116

Requires public utility to reimburse business customer during period when business ceases operations due to utility repairing or replacing its equipment on business customer's property.

NJ A1616

Requires public utility to reimburse business customer during period when business ceases operations due to utility repairing or replacing its equipment on business customer's property.

NJ S445

Requires public utility to reimburse business customer during period when business ceases operations due to utility repairing or replacing its equipment on business customer's property.

NJ A1509

Requires electric public utility to reimburse cost of certain customer-owned electric service equipment if damage to equipment is due to weather event affecting electric public utility service.

NJ A777

Requires electric public utility to reimburse cost of certain customer-owned electric service equipment if damage to equipment is due to weather event affecting electric public utility service.

NJ A5157

Prohibits food service businesses from providing single-use utensils and condiments to customers, except upon request, and requires certain food service businesses to provide reusable, washable utensils to customers eating on site.

NJ S3195

Prohibits food service businesses from providing single-use utensils and condiments to customers, except upon request, and requires certain food service businesses to provide reusable, washable utensils to customers eating on site.

NJ A5331

Prohibits food service businesses from providing single-use plastic utensils and condiments to customers, except upon request, and requires certain food service businesses to provide reusable, washable utensils to customers eating on site.

NJ S1784

Requires electric public utilities to provide training, equipment, indemnity, and reimbursement to certain municipal employees for moving and securing detached, above-ground distribution lines impeding vehicular traffic during lengthy power outages.

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 A2339

Requires electric public utility to reimburse customers for cost of certain spoiled products resulting from service outage more than 72 hours after end of storm.

NJ A1896

Requires electric public utility to reimburse customers for cost of certain spoiled products resulting from service outage more than 72 hours after end of storm.

NJ A1290

Requires electric public utility to reimburse residential or commercial customer for cost of certain spoiled items resulting from service outage more than 48 hours after end of storm.

NJ A333

Requires electric public utility to reimburse residential or commercial customer for cost of certain spoiled items resulting from service outage more than 48 hours after end of storm.

NJ A3516

Requires electric public utility to reimburse customers for up to $500 for spoiled food and full cost of spoiled medicine resulting from lengthy service outage following major event.

NJ A3313

Requires electric public utility to reimburse customers for up to $500 for spoiled food and full cost of spoiled medicine resulting from lengthy service outage following major event.

NJ S1805

Requires electric public utility to reimburse customers for up to $500 for spoiled food and full cost of spoiled medicine resulting from lengthy service outage following major event.

NJ S116

Requires public utility to reimburse business customer during period when business ceases operations due to utility repairing or replacing its equipment on business customer's property.