This bill amends existing notification requirements for utility assistance programs in New Jersey and repeals a previous law related to notifications during the COVID-19 pandemic. It introduces definitions for "local authority," "municipal utility," and "public utility," and mandates that the Department of Community Affairs, the Department of Human Services, the Board of Public Utilities, and other relevant state agencies maintain current public information about utility assistance programs. This information must include a phone number for customer inquiries and a clear statement of consumer protections available to residential customers who apply for these programs.

Additionally, the bill requires local authorities, municipal utilities, public utilities, and rural electric cooperatives to provide this public information prominently on customer bills, in communications regarding overdue bills, and on their websites. They must also include information about any other utility assistance programs available to customers, regardless of whether these programs are state-administered. The bill specifies that compliance can be achieved by including information in both English and the most common language spoken in the customer's county. The repeal of P.L.2021, c.97 eliminates the previous requirement for monthly notifications related to utility assistance during the pandemic.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 48:2-29.60