ASSEMBLY TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND UTILITIES COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 2127

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MARCH 13, 2026

      The Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 2127.

      As reported, this bill prohibits an electric public utility or a gas public utility from charging a residential customer who resides in a multi-unit dwelling a meter-reading fee that exceeds the cost of the residential customer’s electricity or gas usage for that billing cycle.

      Under the bill, “meter-reading fee” means a fee charged to an electric public utility or gas public utility customer who has opted out of smart meter installation, and which fee is intended to cover the cost of manual meter readings conducted by an electric public utility or gas public utility.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2026-2027 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.