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S 4352

Prohibits public utilities from assessing surcharges and certain fees.

2024-2025 Regular Session Introduced by Renee Burgess and 2 co-sponsors

S 4352 bans New Jersey utilities from charging surcharges and additional fees, consolidating costs into base rates and limiting utility revenue streams for infrastructure and operations.

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Economic Growth Committee
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Bill Summary · S 4352

Legislative bill overview

S 4352 would prohibit New Jersey's public utilities from charging surcharges and certain additional fees to customers beyond their standard utility rates. The bill targets add-on charges that utilities currently impose on bills, which can include administrative fees, infrastructure assessments, and other supplemental costs. This represents a direct limitation on utilities' revenue-collection mechanisms.

Why is this important

Public utility surcharges and fees currently add measurable costs to consumer bills—in some cases representing 10-20% of total charges. This bill would affect how utilities fund operations, maintenance, and infrastructure upgrades, potentially shifting those costs to base rates or reducing investment capacity. The outcome directly impacts both consumer billing transparency and utility company financial planning across New Jersey's energy and water sectors.

Potential points of contention

  • Utility funding impact: Prohibiting surcharges may force utilities to increase base rates instead or reduce infrastructure investment, potentially affecting service reliability and grid modernization efforts
  • Rate design complexity: Surcharges often fund specific programs (renewable energy, low-income assistance); eliminating them requires determining how these programs get funded without creating hidden rate increases
  • Regulatory authority: The bill may conflict with existing regulatory frameworks that allow the Board of Public Utilities to approve specific surcharges as cost-recovery mechanisms

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

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