This bill amends existing notification requirements for utility assistance programs in New Jersey, specifically updating the responsibilities of the Department of Community Affairs, the Department of Human Services, and the Board of Public Utilities. It introduces definitions for "local authority," "municipal utility," and "public utility," and mandates that these agencies maintain current public information regarding utility assistance programs, including a phone number for customer inquiries. The bill emphasizes that this information must prominently include consumer protections for residential customers who have applied for assistance programs.

Additionally, the bill requires local authorities, municipal utilities, public utilities, and rural electric cooperatives to provide this public information on customer bills, in communications regarding overdue bills, and on their websites. It also mandates that they include information about any utility assistance programs available to customers, regardless of whether they are state-administered. The bill repeals the previous law (P.L.2021, c.97) that required specific notifications related to utility assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic, thus streamlining the notification process under the new guidelines.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 48:2-29.60