Bill Text: NJ S2477 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Requires public utilities to notify certain officials of discontinuances in electric, gas, or water service.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2020-01-09 - Received in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee [S2477 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2018-S2477-Introduced.html

SENATE, No. 2477

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

218th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED APRIL 12, 2018

 


 

Sponsored by:

Senator  BRIAN P. STACK

District 33 (Hudson)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Requires public utilities to notify certain officials of discontinuances in electric, gas, or water service.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

 


An Act concerning certain public utility service discontinuances and supplementing Title 48 of the Revised Statutes.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    a.   A public utility that discontinues service to a customer that is not the result of an emergency shall notify, in writing, at least 21 calendar days prior to the discontinuance, the mayor, chief law enforcement officer, and local health officer of the municipality in which the customer's premises are located, of a discontinuance lasting 24 or more hours.  In a municipality with no chief law enforcement officer, the public utility shall notify the Superintendent of the State Police.

     b.    A public utility that discontinues service to a customer that is not the result of an emergency shall notify, in writing, at least one calendar day prior to the discontinuance, the chief law enforcement officer of the municipality in which the customer's premises are located, or the Superintendent of the State Police, as appropriate, of a discontinuance lasting 24 or more hours.

     c.     As used in this section:

     "Emergency" means any condition constituting a clear and present danger to life, health, or property requiring a public utility to immediately discontinue or interrupt service or provide an unscheduled discontinuance or interruption in service caused by a sudden natural or man-made disaster or related event.

     "Mayor" shall have the same meaning as provided in R.S.40:55B-1.

     "Public utility" means a public utility, as defined in R.S.48:2-13, that provides electric, gas, or water service.

 

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill requires a public utility providing electric, gas, or water utility service (service) that discontinues service to a customer that is not the result of an emergency is to notify, in writing, at least 21 calendar days prior to the discontinuance, the mayor, chief law enforcement officer, and local health officer of the municipality in which the customer's premises are located, of a discontinuance lasting 24 or more hours.  In a municipality with no chief law enforcement officer, the public utility is to notify the Superintendent of the State Police.  Further, the public utility is to notify again, in writing, at least one calendar day prior to the discontinuance, the chief law enforcement officer of the municipality in which the customer's premises are located, or the Superintendent of the State Police, as appropriate, of a discontinuance lasting 24 or more hours.

     Under the bill, "emergency" is defined as any condition constituting a clear and present danger to life, health, or property requiring a public utility to immediately discontinue or interrupt service or provide an unscheduled discontinuance or interruption in service caused by a sudden natural or man-made disaster or related event.

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