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S 2612

Relates to welfare, medical, and retirement plans provided by a horsemen's organization in the absence of contractual obligations

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Joe Addabbo

Prohibits water/electric shutoffs or restoration refusals for financially strained residential customers during hot periods and excessive heat alerts, with reporting and enforcemen

RETURNED TO SENATE
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 2612

Summary — S 2612: Utility shutoff protections during periods of extreme heat

Status: RETURNED TO SENATE
Introduced / Filed: March 17, 2025 (filed); listed as introduced July 31, 2025
Sponsor (as filed): Senator Joanne M. Comerford
Committee referral / actions: Referred to Telecommunications, Utilities & Energy; passed Senate (6/10/2025) and House/Assembly (6/16/2025) and returned to Senate; hearings scheduled (Nov 13, 2025). See legislative history for full timeline.

Purpose
- To prohibit intentional shutoffs and refusals to restore residential water or electric service for customers facing financial hardship during defined hot-weather periods, and to increase reporting, outreach, data transparency, and regulatory enforcement related to such protections.

Key provisions
- Prohibition on shutoffs/restoration refusals:
- Between May 15 and September 30 each year, and during any period an excessive heat warning or advisory is in effect from the National Weather Service, the following entities may not intentionally shut off or refuse to restore service to residential customers who cannot pay due to financial hardship:
- Cities, towns and water districts (water service) — amendment to chapter 40, §42A
- Municipal lighting plants (electric service) — amendment to chapter 164, §58A
- Investor‑owned electric companies (electric service) — amendment to chapter 164, §124F
- Corporations/companies providing water (water service) — new chapter 165 §11F
- For electricity, the prohibition specifically applies when service is used for temperature control or otherwise to protect residents/property from weather/climate conditions.

  • Reporting requirements (monthly to the Department of Public Utilities, DPU):

    • Number of households that would have lost service absent the protections
    • Municipalities and ZIP codes of affected households
    • Estimated cost to the service provider of maintaining service that would otherwise have ceased

  • Department responsibilities and enforcement:

    • DPU must promulgate regulations under chapter 30A, including establishing daily fines for violations and any other rules needed to implement the statute.
    • Annual publication of a consolidated report (collecting data from referenced statutory sections) and posting on DPU’s website.

  • Outreach and education (annual):

    • DPU must conduct an annual public-information campaign focused on summer shutoff protections and payment-assistance programs, producing accessible, multilingual web materials and a virtual/in-person statewide outreach program targeting low- and moderate-income communities.
    • DPU must report annually on outreach activities: channels used, event dates/locations/attendance, languages of materials, and number of people who registered for arrearage-management plans following outreach.

Immediate and practical effects
- Protects vulnerable residential customers from losing heat‑related water and cooling-related electric service during the hottest period of the year or when excessive heat warnings are active — reducing public‑health risks (heat illness, exacerbation of medical conditions).
- Increases administrative and potential financial burdens on utilities and municipal providers (must continue service and report costs), while providing DPU authority to enforce compliance through daily fines.
- Improves transparency and outreach; may increase enrollment in arrearage-management/payment-assistance programs and provide policymakers with better data on costs and incidence of near‑shutoff events.

Implementation notes
- Protections are time-limited (May 15–Sept 30) but also trigger anytime the National Weather Service issues an excessive heat warning or advisory, potentially extending protections outside that window.
- DPU must develop implementing regulations via the standard administrative rulemaking process (chapter 30A).
- Monthly and annual reporting and public posting requirements create continuing compliance and monitoring responsibilities for utilities and DPU.

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

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