SENATE COMMUNITY AND URBAN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 4522

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  DECEMBER 4, 2025

      The Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 4522.

      As reported, this bill requires the Department of Community Affairs, Department of Human Services, Board of Public Utilities (BPU), and any other State agency that administers a utility bill payment assistance program or energy efficiency program to, within one year of the bill’s effective date, complete a review of the program, as provided for in the bill, and increase the income threshold if the department, BPU, or agency determines an increase to be appropriate. 

      The bill requires that a State agency 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.

      The bill further specifies that if an increase in income thresholds for the State’s low-income energy efficiency programs is ordered, the BPU is required to 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.

      As reported by the committee, Senate Bill No. 4522 is identical to Assembly Bill No. 5733, which was also reported by the committee on this date.