ASSEMBLY TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND UTILITIES COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 6156

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JANUARY 5, 2026

      The Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 6156.

      This bill requires the Board of Public Utilities (board) to collect load-forecasting information from electric public utilities and load-serving entities.  The bill further requires the board to analyze the potential impact of the filings and information on load-forecasting for the State.  Additionally, the bill requires the board to coordinate with PJM Interconnection, L.L.C. (PJM) to ensure load-forecasting information is incorporated into PJM’s regional planning in a fair, accurate, and non-duplicative manner and requires the board to coordinate with PJM and other regulatory authorities to ensure that large loads and customer contracts are accounted for in a non-duplicative manner.

      The bill also requires the board to provide annual reports to the Governor and to the Legislature that include a summary of the load-forecasting information collected, the board’s analysis of the load-forecasting information, and the board’s efforts to coordinate with PJM and other regulatory authorities.

      As used in this bill, “load-forecasting information” means the methodologies, data, and assumptions utilized in the process of predicting future electrical load requirements to support power generation planning and the operation of electrical power systems.  As defined in the bill, load-forecasting information includes contracts, agreements, and commitments made between electric public utilities, load-serving entities, and their customers that impact load forecasting.