SB 994/AB 3329 An Act concerning local and public utility service and affordability
- Policy Category: Drinking Water
- State: New Jersey
- Date Implemented: 9/13/2022
September 13, 2022 Signed into law
This legislation requires the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to collect data on consumers’ ability to afford utility bills, including water and sewer bills, and the extent of water shutoffs due to non-payment. Utilities (both private and publicly owned) must share monthly data on rates, the number of customer disconnection notes sent due to bill non-payment, service disconnections due to bill non-payment, service reconnections of customers disconnected for bill non-payment, and average time between service disconnection due to non-payment and service reconnection. Other data collected includes the number of customers enrolled in deferred payment agreements at the end of each month, and the total dollar amount of arrears and average amount of arrears per customer.
Utilities must report on available customer assistance programs, “including terms of eligibility, available budget for each program, and any enhancements to the programs that are being made to address anticipated increased demand; [and] the number of customers that applied for financial assistance under each applicable utility assistance program.”
- Action Agency(ies): Board of Public Utilities, Department of Community Affairs
- Policy Champions: Senator Teresa Ruiz and Assemblywoman Angela McKnight
- Read the full policy language
