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 regarding utility assistance programs. This information must include a phone number for customer inquiries and a statement of consumer protections for residential customers who have applied for assistance.

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 utility assistance programs available to customers, including those not administered by the state. 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 The previous law, P.L.2021, c.97, which mandated monthly notifications regarding assistance during the pandemic, is repealed under this bill.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 48:2-29.60