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Bill

CA

Bill

S 4697

Prohibits electric public utilities from billing customers for certain services during service interruptions and requires repair of certain street lights.

2024-2025 Regular Session Introduced by Carmen Amato and 1 co-sponsor

New Jersey bill prohibits utilities from billing customers during power outages and requires utilities to repair street lights in service areas.

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Economic Growth Committee
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Bill Summary · S 4697

Legislative bill overview

S 4697 prohibits electric public utilities in New Jersey from billing customers for services they cannot use during service interruptions and mandates that utilities repair street lights within their service areas. The bill establishes consumer protections against paying for electricity during outages while creating obligations for utilities to maintain public lighting infrastructure.

Why is this important

Service interruptions—whether from weather, equipment failure, or maintenance—leave customers without power but potentially still liable for bills, creating financial hardship. Requiring street light repairs addresses public safety concerns, as non-functional street lighting correlates with increased crime and accidents in affected communities.

Potential points of contention

  • Utility cost concerns: Utilities may argue that billing prohibitions during outages reduce revenue needed for infrastructure investments and maintenance, potentially passing costs to other ratepayers
  • Definition ambiguity: The bill may lack clarity on what constitutes a qualifying "service interruption" (duration threshold, cause eligibility, partial vs. full outages) and how to measure billing credits fairly
  • Street light scope and funding: Unclear which street lights fall under utility responsibility versus municipal obligation, and whether utilities should bear full repair costs or share responsibility with local governments

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

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