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S 2862

Requires BPU to develop program to promote certain energy businesses in State.*

2024-2025 Regular Session Introduced by Andrew Zwicker

NJ BPU must create a program promoting women-, minority-, veteran-, and LGBTQ-owned energy businesses with annual enrollment, tracking, and rising procurement targets.

Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee
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Bill Summary · S 2862

Summary — S-2862 (New Jersey)

Title: Requires BPU to develop program to promote certain energy businesses in State

Purpose

Require the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to develop and implement a program to promote women‑owned, minority‑owned, veteran‑owned, and LGBTQ‑owned energy businesses, and to set measurable procurement targets for energy purchased by business customers and public entities using retail choice.

Key provisions

  • BPU must establish the program no later than one year after the bill’s effective date. The program may use public information campaigns, marketing, advertising, incentives, or other measures the BPU deems appropriate.
  • Procurement target schedule (measured by “energy year”):
    • Year 1 after program establishment: 5% of natural gas and electricity purchased by business customers/public entities using retail choice sourced through qualifying owners;
    • Year 2: 11%;
    • Year 3: 18%;
    • Year 4 and thereafter: 25%.
  • Definition of “energy business” expanded (per committee amendments) to include brokers, electric power suppliers, energy agents, gas suppliers, marketers, and specifically board‑licensed energy agents, energy consultants, and private energy aggregators.
  • Eligibility requirements for businesses to participate:
    • Certification as women‑, minority‑, veteran‑, or LGBTQ‑owned by an appropriate State or national certifying organization (examples cited: National Minority Supplier Development Council; Women’s Business Enterprise National Council);
    • Registered to do business in New Jersey and filed a current New Jersey Annual Report with the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services.
  • Annual enrollment and application process:
    • BPU to create an application process and hold a 60‑day annual enrollment period for businesses seeking program participation.
    • BPU and each electric and gas public utility must post on their websites the list of BPU‑approved energy businesses participating in the program.
  • Tracking and transparency:
    • BPU must establish a system to track program progress toward the targets and post regular updates on its website.
  • Effective date: the act takes effect immediately upon enactment; BPU has one year to establish the program.

Who is affected

  • Women‑, minority‑, veteran‑, and LGBTQ‑owned energy businesses that meet certification and registration requirements (potentially increasing market opportunities).
  • Business customers and public entities that procure electricity or gas through retail choice and utilize third‑party energy agents, consultants, aggregators, or brokers.
  • BPU and regulated electric and gas public utilities (administration, outreach, and web‑posting responsibilities).

Committee amendments and technical notes

  • Committee amendments explicitly include board‑licensed energy agents, energy consultants, and private energy aggregators in the definition of “energy business” and clarify that the procurement targets are measured in the context of energy procured by businesses and public entities that utilize those third‑party agents/aggregators.
  • Other technical edits incorporated.

Legislative status and administrative next steps

  • Reported out of Senate Environment and Energy Committee with amendments (5/22/2025). Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.
  • BPU must act within one year after enactment to establish the program; thereafter, annual enrollment and ongoing tracking/reporting obligations apply.

Note: the bill text and docket indicate this is New Jersey legislation supplementing Title 48 (state law). A list of sponsors provided in the record appears to include federal legislators; users should verify sponsor and jurisdictional details against the official legislative database.

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

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