LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE

SENATE, No. 2189

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

 

DATED: OCTOBER 15, 2026

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis:

Requires BPU to study potential deployment of advanced transmission technologies in NJ. 

Type of Impact:

One-time State expenditure increase. 

Agencies Affected:

New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. 

 

 

Office of Legislative Services Estimate

Fiscal Impact

One-Time

 

State Expenditure Increase

Indeterminate

 

 

·         The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) concludes that this bill will result in a one-time State expenditure increase of indeterminate magnitude attributable to the Board of Public Utilities conducting the required study, holding at least two public stakeholder meetings, preparing the required report, and publishing the report on the board’s website.

 

·         The board may incur administrative expenses associated with research, stakeholder outreach, public meetings, report preparation, and publication.  The OLS anticipates that the board may be able to absorb a large portion of the administrative expenses using existing staff and resources.

 

·         The bill does not require electric public utilities to deploy advanced transmission technologies or undertake capital projects, and as such is not expected to increase ratepayer costs, or State and local utility costs.  Any future fiscal impact would depend on subsequent board action or rulemaking based upon the findings of the study.

 

 

BILL DESCRIPTION

 

      This bill requires the board to study the potential deployment of advanced transmission technologies by electric public utilities in the State.  The study is required to evaluate, in part, the costs, benefits, feasibility, and potential ratepayer impacts of grid enhancing technology, advanced or high-performance conductors, and other technology designed to reduce transmission congestion or increase the capacity, efficiency, reliability, or safety of an existing or new electric transmission facility. 

      This bill requires the board to give notice of a public stakeholder meeting and invite interested parties and members of the public to discuss the study.  The board is to hold at least two public stakeholder meetings to review comments from stakeholders. 

      In addition, the bill requires the board, within one year after the bill’s date of enactment, to submit a written report to the Governor and the Legislature with the findings of the board’s study.  The board is to publish the report on its Internet website. 

 

 

FISCAL ANALYSIS

 

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

 

      None received. 

 

 

OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES

 

      The OLS concludes that this bill will result in a one-time State expenditure increase of indeterminate magnitude attributable to conducting the required study, holding at least two public stakeholder meetings, preparing the required report, and publishing the report on the board’s website.

      The board may incur administrative expenses associated with research, stakeholder outreach, public meetings, report preparation, and publication.  The OLS anticipates that the board may be able to absorb a large portion of the administrative expenses using existing staff and resources.  Additionally, due to the technical analysis in the study that is required by the bill, the board may incur additional costs if the board contracts with outside consultants or technical experts. 

      Notably, the bill does not require electric public utilities to deploy advanced transmission technologies or undertake capital projects.  As a result, the bill is not expected to increase ratepayer costs, or State and local utility costs.  Any future fiscal impact would depend on subsequent board action or rulemaking based upon the findings of the study. 

 

 

Section:

Authorities, Utilities, Transportation and Communications

Analyst:

Michael D. Walker Jr.

Associate Fiscal Analyst

Approved:

Thomas Koenig

Legislative Budget and Finance Officer

 

 

This legislative fiscal estimate has been produced by the Office of Legislative Services due to the failure of the Executive Branch to respond to our request for a fiscal note.

 

This fiscal estimate has been prepared pursuant to P.L.1980, c.67 (C.52:13B-6 et seq.).