ASSEMBLY, No. 3251

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman DAN HUTCHISON

District 4 (Atlantic, Camden and Gloucester)

Assemblyman CODY D. MILLER

District 4 (Atlantic, Camden and Gloucester)

Assemblyman MICHAEL VENEZIA

District 34 (Essex)

SYNOPSIS

     Prohibits electric and gas public utility residential rate increases during certain times of year; requires advance notice of certain rate increases.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.

An Act concerning electric public utility and gas public utility rate increases and supplementing Title 48 of the Revised Statutes.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

     1.    a.  As used in this section: 

     “Board” means the Board of Public Utilities.

     “Electric public utility” means a public utility, as that term is defined in R.S.48:2-13, that distributes electricity to end users within the State.

     “Gas public utility” means a public utility, as that term is defined in R.S.48:2-13, that distributes gas to end users within the State.

     b.    Notwithstanding any law, rule, regulation, or order to the contrary, an electric public utility rate increase for residential customers shall not go into effect during the summer season from June 1 through August 31 or during the winter season from January 1 through March 31.

     c.     Notwithstanding any law, rule, regulation, or order to the contrary, a gas public utility rate increase for residential customers shall not go into effect during the winter season from January 1 through March 31.

     d.    At least 30 days before an electric public utility or gas public utility residential rate increase goes into effect pursuant to subsections b. or c. of this section, an electric public utility or gas public utility shall provide notice of the rate increase to residential customers via mail or electronic mail.

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

     This bill prohibits electric public utility residential rate increases during the summer, from June 1 through August 31, and electric public utility and gas public utility residential rate increases during the winter, from January 1 through March 31.  In addition, the bill requires electric public utilities and gas public utilities to provide residential customers with at least 30 days advance notice of the rate increase via mail or electronic mail.