SENATE ECONOMIC GROWTH COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 302

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 8, 2026

      The Senate Economic Growth Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 302.

      As amended and reported, this bill requires each water public utility, local authority, and municipal utility that provides water service (water utility) that utilizes smart meters to notify all smart meter customers by the last day of each month via mail, electronic mail, or text message of:  (1) the cost in dollars of the smart meter customer’s water usage for the billing cycle up to the time at most two days before which the notification is sent; and (2) the amount in gallons of the smart meter customer’s water usage for the billing cycle up to the time at most two days before which the notification is sent.  Each water utility that utilizes smart meters is also required to provide all smart meter customers with the option to receive additional notices concerning the customers’ monthly water usage, as outlined in the bill.

      In addition, the bill requires each water utility that utilizes smart meters to make initial contact with a smart meter customer regarding notices issued under the bill through a bill insert sent via mail or electronic mail, which bill insert is to include certain instructions for smart meter customers regarding notifications.

      The bill prohibits water utilities from issuing text message notifications under the bill to smart meter customers unless the smart meter customer has given prior, express consent to receive text message notifications for the purposes of the bill.

      Finally, the bill requires each water utility that utilizes smart meters to include certain information regarding water usage and water utility tariffs in each bill issued to a water utility’s smart meter customer.

      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.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the definition of "smart meter" in section 1 of the bill to clarify that the "public utility" is a "water public utility."  The committee also amended the definitions of "smart meter" and "smart meter customer" in section 2 of the bill to change references to "public utility" in the definitions to "local authority or municipal utility."