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Bill

Bill

A 501

Establishes uniform rates for water and sewer services for residential use based exclusively on metered consumption.

2024-2025 Regular Session Introduced by Wayne DeAngelo

Bill standardizes New Jersey residential water/sewer rates to metered consumption only, eliminating municipal rate variations but potentially disrupting utility revenue models and infrastructure funding.

Introduced in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee
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Bill Summary · A 501

Legislative bill overview

Bill A 501 standardizes water and sewer service rates across New Jersey residential customers by tying charges directly to metered consumption, eliminating variable rate structures that may differ by municipality or utility provider. The bill mandates uniform pricing based solely on actual usage measurements rather than flat fees, estimated consumption, or other calculation methods.

Why is this important

Water and sewer rates significantly impact household budgets, particularly for low-income residents and large families. Currently, New Jersey municipalities set rates independently, creating disparities where identical consumption can cost different amounts depending on location. Standardizing rates based on metered usage could increase predictability and fairness, but could also disrupt existing revenue models for water utilities.

Potential points of contention

  • Revenue impacts on municipalities: Fixed-rate systems often subsidize infrastructure maintenance; consumption-only rates may create shortfalls for aging water infrastructure repairs in less densely populated areas
  • Cross-subsidy elimination: Current systems may have lower-income protections or seasonal adjustments that would be eliminated under strict metered-only pricing
  • Implementation costs: Requires all utilities to upgrade metering infrastructure and billing systems, with unclear funding mechanism or timeline for compliance

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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