reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-29.48 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-29.48 - Definitions relative to electric public utility service discontinuances.

48:2-29.48 Definitions relative to electric public utility service discontinuances.  1. As used in P.L.2019, c.154 (C.48:2-29.48 et seq.): "Board" means the Board of Public Utilities or any successor agency. "Electric public utility" or "utility" means a public utility, as that term is defined in R.S.48:2-13, that provides electric distribution service. "Emergency" means any condition constituting a potential danger to life, health, or property requiring an electric public utility to immediately discontinue or interrupt service or that results in an unscheduled discontinuance or interruption in electric service. "Medical customer" means a residential electric public utility customer of record who uses life-sustaining equipment powered by electricity, as determined by the board, at the customer's address and affirmatively responds to a request for information pursuant to subsection a. of section 2 of P.L.2019, c.154 (C.48:2-29.49). L.2019, c.154, s.1.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-29.49 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-29.49 - Annual request for information by electric public utility.

48:2-29.49 Annual request for information by electric public utility.  2. a. An electric public utility shall request from every residential customer, on a semi-annual basis, information, determined by the board, as to whether the residential customer, or any person living at the residential customer's address, uses life-sustaining equipment powered by electricity at the residential customer's address. If a residential customer responds to the utility's request for information indicating that the residential customer or a person living at the residential customer's address uses life-sustaining equipment powered by electricity, the utility shall designate that residential customer as a medical customer. b. Discontinuance of electric service for nonpayment is prohibited for a period of 90 days, if a medical customer's condition would be aggravated by a discontinuance of electric service. The board may extend the 90-day period of time in which a discontinuance of electric service is prohibited for an additional period of time for good cause. The board shall determine which types of licensed medical professionals are able to sign a medical certification needed to avoid the discontinuance of electric service pursuant to this section and shall establish conditions that shall apply to the prohibition on a discontinuance of electric service to a medical customer that shall include, but not be limited to, provisions requiring the medical customer to: (1) provide reasonable proof of an inability to pay a utility bill on or before the bill's due date; and (2) submit a written licensed medical professional's statement to the utility, stating: (a) the existence of the medical customer's use of life-sustaining equipment powered by electricity at the medical customer's premises and the probable duration of that use; (b) the nature of the condition of the medical customer and its probable duration, only if the disclosure of the information is not otherwise prohibited by law; and (c) that the discontinuance of service to the medical customer will aggravate the condition of the medical customer. L.2019, c.154, s.2.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-29.50 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-29.50 - Liability for payment of bill balance.

48:2-29.50 Liability for payment of bill balance.  3. A medical customer who does not pay in full an electric public utility bill on or before the date the bill is due shall be liable for any bill payment balance for service rendered by the utility, in accordance with a utility's tariff.  L.2019, c.154, s.3.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-29.51 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-29.51 - Customer outreach plan.

48:2-29.51 Customer outreach plan.  4. The board shall direct each electric public utility to develop a customer outreach plan, subject to board approval, that shall inform customers of the process for qualifying as a medical customer pursuant to P.L.2019, c.154 (C.48:2-29.48 et seq.). L.2019, c.154, s.4.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-29.52 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-29.52 - Excuse from compliance.

48:2-29.52 Excuse from compliance.  5. An electric public utility shall be excused from compliance with the provisions of section 2 of P.L.2019, c.154 (C.48:2-29.49) in the event of an emergency or if, despite compliance by the utility with the requirements of section 2 of P.L.2019, c.154 (C.48:2-29.49), the medical customer fails or refuses to respond to a request for information by the utility pursuant to section 2 of P.L.2019, c.154 (C.48:2-29.49). L.2019, c.154, s.5.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-29.53 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-29.53 - Rules, regulations.

48:2-29.53 Rules, regulations.  6. Notwithstanding any provisions of the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), the board shall, within 180 days after the enactment of P.L.2019, c.154 (C.48:2-29.48 et seq.), adopt rules and regulations implementing the provisions of P.L.2019, c.154 (C.48:2-29.48 et seq.). The rules and regulations adopted by the board shall be effective as rules and regulations immediately upon filing with the Office of Administrative Law and shall be effective for a period not to exceed 24 months, and may, thereafter, be amended, adopted, or readopted by the board pursuant to the provisions of the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.). L.2019, c.154, s.6.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-29.54 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-29.54 - Definitions relative to public utilities.

48:2-29.54 Definitions relative to public utilities.  6. As used in sections 6 through 8 of P.L.2021, c.317 (C.48:2-29.54 through C.48:2-29.56): "Board" means the Board of Public Utilities or any successor agency. "Public utility" means a public utility, as defined pursuant to R.S.48:2-13, that provides electric, gas, sewer, or water service. "Residential customer" means a residential customer of record of a public utility or any residential tenant of a residence where the owner or any agent or other representative of the owner of the residence is a non-residential customer of record of the public utility. "Utility emergency" means any condition constituting a potential danger to life, health, or property requiring a sewer or water public utility to discontinue, interrupt, or maintain the discontinuation or interruption of sewer or water service or that results in an unscheduled discontinuance or interruption in sewer or water service. L. 2021, c.317, s.6.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-29.55 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-29.55 - Winter Termination Program, inclusions.

48:2-29.55 Winter Termination Program, inclusions.  7. Within 120 days of the effective date of P.L.2021, c.317 (C.40A:5A-28 et al.), the Board of Public Utilities shall include each sewer and water public utility in the board's Winter Termination Program as established by the board pursuant to rules and regulations adopted by the board and published in the New Jersey Administrative Code. In addition to the inclusion of sewer and water public utilities, the board shall establish within the Winter Termination Program: a. categorical eligibility for any customer receiving assistance under the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program established pursuant to the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, Pub.L.116-260 or any other State, local, or utility program that provides assistance specifically to help eligible customers pay sewer or water bills; b. a process, in a form and manner to be determined by the board, which allows a residential customer to self-certify an inability to pay their public utility bill due to circumstances beyond the customer's control, provided that the circumstances shall include, but not be limited to, unemployment, illness, medically related expenses, recent death of an immediate family member, and any other circumstances that might cause financial hardship; and c. a requirement that a water public utility shall maintain or reconnect water public utility service if the water public utility residential customer can prove they have submitted an application for assistance under the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program established pursuant to the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, Pub.L.116-260 or any other State, local, or utility program that provides assistance or discounted rates specifically to help eligible customers pay sewer or water bills, before such application has been approved, denied, or withdrawn, unless there is a utility emergency. Upon request, the residential customer shall provide the public utility with an update on the status of the application. L. 2021, c.317, s.7.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-29.56 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-29.56 - Rules, regulations.

48:2-29.56 Rules, regulations.  8. The board shall promulgate rules and regulations, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), to effectuate the purpose of sections 6 and 7 of P.L.2021, c.317 (C.48:2-29.54 and C.48:2-29.55). L. 2021, c.317, s.8.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-30 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-30 - Requisition of sum required for payments for services; reservation

48:2-30. Requisition of sum required for payments for services; reservation  When any contract is made by the board for professional or expert services for the purposes of carrying out any of the provisions of this chapter, the board shall make requisition on the state comptroller for the reservation of such sum as may be required to make payments for the services and doing the work agreed upon in the contract. The comptroller shall reserve for the purpose of making such payments, from the money appropriated by the legislature for the salaries and expenses of the board, the sum called for in the requisition.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-31 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-31 - Balance of reserve; disposition

48:2-31. Balance of reserve; disposition  If the work called for by the contract mentioned in section 48:2-30 of this title is not completed during the fiscal year in which the contract is made, the balance of the sum reserved by the comptroller on account of the contract shall remain to the credit of the board and shall be used for the purpose of making further payments until the work called for by the contract is completed. No such balance shall be retained nor shall any such contract be extended beyond the close of the fiscal year following the year in which the contract is made.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-32 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-32 - Board rules to govern; single member may sit

48:2-32. Board rules to govern; single member may sit  All hearings and investigations before the board or any member thereof or any hearing examiner designated by the board shall be governed by rules adopted by the board. Neither the board nor such member or hearing examiner shall be bound by the technical rules of evidence. The members of the board may sit singly for the purpose of taking testimony in any proceeding. Amended by L.1962, c. 198, s. 19.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-32.1 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-32.1 - Hearing examiners; authority; rules and regulations; compensation

48:2-32.1. Hearing examiners; authority; rules and regulations; compensation  The Board of Public Utility Commissioners may by order in writing designate its secretary, assistant secretaries, counsel, executive officer, assistant executive officer, any director or assistant director of any division of the board, any engineer, accountant, auditor or rate analyst of the board or any person acting in such capacity as its representative in, and on its behalf to conduct, any hearing in any proceeding now or hereafter pending before said board as a hearing examiner. A hearing examiner, so designated by said board, shall have all the authority in the conduct of such hearing, including power to administer oaths, which is vested by Title 48 of the Revised Statutes, in a commissioner sitting singly, including authority to report to the board his findings and recommendations as to the order or other disposition to be made. The board shall adopt rules and regulations relating to hearings conducted by a hearing examiner, the reports to be made and the recommendations to be submitted for action by the board, the taking of exceptions to such reports and recommendations, and proceedings before the board on the question of the adoption, rejection or modification by the board of the report and recommendations made by such hearing examiner. No one so designated by the board as a hearing examiner shall by reason of such designation be entitled to or be paid or receive, directly or indirectly, additional compensation by reason of the services performed under such designation. Amended by L.1952, c. 10, p. 49, s. 1; L.1958, c. 61, p. 183, s. 1; L.1967, c. 156, s. 1, eff. July 13, 1967.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-32.2a (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-32.2a - Applicability of notification procedures

48:2-32.2a. Applicability of notification procedures  The specific notification procedures set forth in this amendatory and supplementary act shall apply to any hearing or investigatory function involving:  a. Any adjustment of public utility rates, tolls, fares or charges, or schedules thereof;  b. The proposed or actual discontinuance, curtailment or abandonment of any essential public utility service;  c. The fixing of standards for the measurement of a public utility product or service pursuant to subsection b. of R.S. 48:2-25; and  d. Public utility surcharge collections, pursuant to R.S. 48:2-29.4.  L. 1985, c. 203, s. 3, eff. June 26, 1985.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-32.2b (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-32.2b - Complementary requirements

48:2-32.2b. Complementary requirements  This amendatory and supplementary act shall not be construed as limiting notice requirements, per se, to the hearings and investigations set forth in section 3 hereof but, rather, shall be construed as complementing any other public utility notice requirements, and other notice requirements, pertaining to the Board of Public Utilities, which are provided by law.  L. 1985, c. 203, s. 4, eff. June 26, 1985.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-32.3 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-32.3 - Public passenger transportation service; changes or curtailment; notice

48:2-32.3. Public passenger transportation service; changes or curtailment; notice  Whenever a State agency shall schedule public hearings relating to proposed changes or curtailment of public passenger transportation service, such hearings shall be conducted in the county or counties whose residents will be most affected by such proposals and in those cases where the proposals relate to commuter passenger service such hearings shall be held during evening hours starting no earlier than 8 p.m. and no later than 8:30 p.m. Notice of such hearings shall be given by the State agency to the board of chosen freeholders of each county whose residents will be affected and to the clerk of each municipality in the county or counties whose residents will be affected; such notice shall also be posted by the State agency in prominent places on the railroad cars and buses serving the routes to be affected. L.1968, c. 72, s. 1, eff. June 21, 1968. Amended by L.1973, c. 293, s. 1, eff. Dec. 6, 1973.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-32.4 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-32.4 - Hearing in affected municipality

48:2-32.4. Hearing in affected municipality  Prior to granting a public utility a proposed adjustment which would result in an increase in individual rates, joint rates, tolls, charges or schedules thereof, the Board of Public Utilities or the Office of Administrative Law shall hold at least one public hearing in the municipality affected by the proposed adjustment. If more than one municipality is located in the service area affected by the proposed adjustment, the public hearing shall be held in a centrally located municipality in the affected service area. Notice of any such hearing shall be furnished in the manner provided for notices generally pursuant to subsections c. and d. of section 34 of P.L. 1962, c. 198 (C. 48:2-32.2). In the case of a hearing held by the Office of Administrative Law, proof of service of notice by a public utility shall be furnished to that office.  L. 1980, c. 179, s. 1, eff. Dec. 31, 1980. Amended by L. 1985, c. 203, s. 2, eff. June 26, 1985.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-32.5 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-32.5 - Definitions

48:2-32.5. Definitions  For purposes of this act: a. "Geographic region" means one of the following regions of the State: the southern region encompassing the counties of Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean and Salem; the central region encompassing the counties of Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth and Somerset; and the northern region encompassing those counties remaining in the State. b. "Intervenor" means any person permitted to intervene by the Board of Public Utilities or its presiding officer in any proceeding. c. "Objector" means any person who objects on the grounds of public or private interest to the approval, determination, consent, certification or authorization of any petition pending before the board. d. "Petitioner" means any person who files a petition, or on whose behalf a petition is made, for approval, determination, consent, certification or authorization of the board. e. "Respondent" means any person subject to the jurisdiction of the board to whom the board issues notice instituting a proceeding or investigation of the board or ordered before any pending proceeding of the board or against whom a petition is filed. f. "Service area" means the entire geographic area over which a gas or electric light, heat or power company has a privilege or franchise granted by the State or by any political subdivision of the State, in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 48:2-13 and R.S. 48:2-14. g. "Significant increase" means an increase other than one resulting from a levelized energy adjustment clause or raw materials adjustment clause. L.1983, c. 454, s. 1, eff. Jan. 12, 1984.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-32.6 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-32.6 - Public hearings.

48:2-32.6 Public hearings.  2. a. (1) The provisions of any other law, rule, regulation, or order to the contrary notwithstanding, the board, or the Office of Administrative Law acting pursuant to subsection (c) of section 10 of the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-10(c)), shall conduct as many of its public hearings held to review applications by public utilities other than municipal, county, or other local government owned companies not subject to the jurisdiction of the board for significant increases, changes, or alterations in their rate schedules, in the service area of the applicant as the board deems necessary or appropriate to afford the affected ratepayers the opportunity to monitor the decision-making process by which the rates are set. At least two public hearings shall be held in the service area with respect to any application except that, if substantial portions of the service area are located in more than one geographic region of the State, then at least two public hearings shall be held in the service area located in each of those geographic regions, under the terms and conditions specified in this subsection. One of the public hearings held in the service area, or one of the hearings held in each geographic area, as the case may be, shall be a hearing in which petitioners, respondents, and intervenors are parties. At the second hearing required by the provisions of this subsection, statements by objectors shall be permitted. All public hearings held pursuant to the provisions of this subsection shall be held at places which are easily accessible to the public with at least one hearing held during evening hours. (2) As used in this subsection, "public utility" means "public utility" as defined in R.S.48:2-13.  b. On the day that the final public hearing is to be held in connection with any application, after which the recommended report and decision is to be filed in accordance with subsection (c) of section 10 of the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-10(c)), the administrative law judge or the board, as the case may be, may require the parties to the proceedings to present a summary statement of their cases or defenses. After the presentation, statements by the objectors shall be permitted in order to accord persons not parties to the proceedings an opportunity to participate in the proceedings. If no presentation is made, objector's statements shall be permitted in any event before the conclusion of the hearing. The final public hearing shall be held in the service area. L.1983, c.454, s.2; amended 2017, c.77, s.2.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-32.7 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-32.7 - Final decision or order.

48:2-32.7 Final decision or order.  3. a. The board shall adopt a final decision or order with respect to an application under section 2 of P.L.1983, c.454 (C.48:2-32.6) at a public meeting, in accordance with subsection (d) of section 10 of the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-10(d)). Each member of the board shall individually state the reason for the member's decision on the application either at the public meeting or in a written document, which document shall be available to the public upon request.  b. A final decision or order pursuant to subsection a. of this section shall be made within 12 months of the final public hearing held to review an application under section 2 of P.L.1983, c.454 (C.48:2-32.6). If the board has not adopted a final decision or order within 12 months of the final public hearing, the board shall hold an additional public hearing before adopting a final decision or order. A final decision or order shall not be adopted pursuant to subsection a. of this section unless a public hearing to review an application has been held in the previous 12 months. L.1983, c.454, s.3; amended 2017, c.77, s.3.