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Bill

A 5661

Relates to calculation of the earned income credit

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Joe Angelino and 16 co-sponsors

Public utilities must notify affected customers about rate-increase filings with the BPU, including filing details, impact, hearings, and how to testify.

REFERRED TO WAYS AND MEANS
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Bill Summary · A 5661

Summary of Assembly Bill A 5661 (NJ)

Note: The bill’s title indicates “Relates to calculation of the earned income credit,” but the introduced version content provided concerns public utility rate increases and customer notifications. The summary below follows the introduced version content about utility rate filings.

Purpose and intent

  • To increase transparency and public participation in public utility rate increase proceedings before the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU).
  • To ensure affected utility customers are informed about filings seeking rate increases and have a clear path to participate in related hearings.

Key provisions

  • Definitions

    • “Board” means the Board of Public Utilities or its successor.
    • “Public utility” has the same meaning as in R.S.48:2-13.

  • Notification to customers

    • A public utility that files a petition with the BPU to increase an individual rate, joint rate, toll, charge, or schedule must notify its affected customers.
    • The notice must be included with each affected customer’s first utility bill after the filing and include: 1) a summary of the filing’s contents; 2) the reasoning for the filing; 3) the filing’s impact on affected customers; 4) information about any public hearings concerning the filing; and 5) how customers can testify in support of or oppose the filing.

  • Optional email notifications

    • Utilities must allow customers to opt in to receive email notifications about hearings related to petitions increasing rates or schedules.

  • Effective date

    • The act takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Who is affected

  • Public utilities that file rate-increase petitions with the BPU.
  • Affected customers who receive the notices (and future customers who opt in for email hearing notices).

Timeline and procedural context

  • Introduced in the Assembly on May 8, 2025.
  • Referred to the Ways and Means committee (listed as a sponsor action).
  • Related bills noted include S 4571 (companion) and several prior-session A bills, indicating alignment with ongoing or similar proposals.

Potential impact

  • Increased customer awareness of rate-change proposals and their potential impact.
  • Enhanced public participation in hearings, potentially influencing rate decisions.
  • Administrative requirements and potential costs for utilities to generate and distribute notices and maintain an opt-in email system.
  • Regulatory transparency aligned with consumer protections in utility oversight.

Sponsors and related references

  • Primary sponsor: William A. Barclay (with multiple cosponsors listed).
  • Related bill: S 4571 (companion); several prior-session bills (A 9102, A 5714, A 4177, A 5291, A 5442).

If you’d like, I can add a concise comparison to similar transparency- or consumer-notification provisions in other states.

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

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