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Bill

Bill

S 397

Requires electric, gas, and water public utilities to provide certain notifications to customers concerning certain service outages.

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Brian Stack

New Jersey bill requiring electric, gas, and water utilities to notify customers of service outages, enhancing transparency and emergency preparedness.

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Economic Growth Committee
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Bill Summary · S 397

Legislative bill overview

S 397 mandates that electric, gas, and water utilities in New Jersey establish notification protocols to inform customers about service outages. The bill creates a standardized requirement for how and when utilities must communicate disruptions to their customers.

Why is this important

Service outages affect public safety, economic activity, and quality of life—especially for vulnerable populations who may rely on utilities for medical equipment or heating/cooling. Clear, timely notifications help customers prepare for disruptions and understand restoration timelines, while also creating accountability for utility companies to communicate transparently.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation costs: Utilities may argue that establishing comprehensive notification systems (text alerts, calls, emails, website updates) requires significant infrastructure investment that could be passed to ratepayers
  • Definition ambiguity: The bill doesn't specify what constitutes a reportable outage (does a 5-minute disruption require notice?) or notification timing requirements, which could lead to disputes over compliance
  • Enforcement mechanism: The bill doesn't clarify penalties for non-compliance or which agency oversees enforcement, potentially weakening its effectiveness

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

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