This bill establishes new requirements for public utilities in New Jersey regarding rate increases. It mandates that any public utility filing a petition with the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) for a rate increase must notify affected customers through bill inserts or newspaper publications in the relevant service areas. The notification must include a summary of the filing, the reasoning behind it, and its impact on customers. Additionally, the bill requires that a plain language summary of the BPU's final decision on the petition be sent to affected customers. If the decision results in a rate increase, the summary must be sent 30 days prior to the new rates taking effect; if there is no increase, it must be sent within 14 days of the decision.

Furthermore, the bill amends existing law to require the BPU to respond in writing to any public questions raised during hearings related to significant rate changes. This response must occur within 14 days following the final hearing on the public utility's application. The bill aims to enhance transparency and communication between public utilities and their customers, ensuring that customers are well-informed about rate changes and the decision-making process.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 48:2-32.6