Sponsored by:
Assemblyman WAYNE P. DEANGELO
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
Assemblyman KEVIN P. EGAN
District 17 (Middlesex and Somerset)
Assemblywoman ELIANA PINTOR MARIN
District 29 (Essex and Hudson)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman Simmons, Assemblyman Atkins, Assemblywomen Speight, Reynolds-Jackson, Hall and Lopez
SYNOPSIS
Requires State agencies that administer utility bill payment assistance or energy efficiency programs to review, and potentially increase, income thresholds for residential customers to participate in programs.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Assembly Appropriations Committee on May 15, 2025, with amendments.
An Act requiring 1[an increase] reviews of, and authorizing potential increases1 to 1,1 income thresholds for certain utility bill payment assistance and energy efficiency programs.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Within one year of the 1[effective]1 date 1[of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill)] the Board of Public Utilities issues a final order in the proceeding entitled “In the Matter of Addressing New Jersey Energy Affordability for Low- and Moderate-Income Households” Docket No. QO241108531, the Department of Community Affairs, Department of Human Services, Board of Public Utilities, and any other State agency that administers a utility bill payment assistance program or energy efficiency program active upon the effective date of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill) shall review 1[and increase]1 the income threshold for residential customers to participate in those programs 1, and increase the income threshold if the department, board, or agency determines an increase to be appropriate. A review completed pursuant to this section shall consider factors such as the alignment of separate low-income and moderate-income income thresholds used across programs and agencies, the use of alternate income thresholds, including State median income, and the aggregate cost and impacts of the increased income thresholds1. A State agency 1[may] shall1 request public comment, in a form and manner determined by that State agency, or seek assistance from other State agencies, to determine an appropriate increase to the program’s income threshold. 1If an increase in income thresholds for the State’s low-income energy efficiency programs is ordered, the Board of Public Utilities shall assess if further guidance is necessary to change income thresholds in the utilities’ triennium energy efficiency and peak demand reduction programs for moderate-income energy efficiency programs to ensure that low- and moderate-income customers are eligible for only one energy efficiency assistance program and to expand access to moderate-income programs, if appropriate.1
2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire upon the date of the final income threshold increase required of a State agency.