reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-6 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-6 - Traveling expenses

48:2-6. Traveling expenses  The members, secretary, assistant secretaries and other employees of the board shall be entitled to receive from the State their necessary traveling expenses while traveling on the business of the board. Such traveling expenses shall be paid on proper voucher therefor approved by the president of the board. Amended by L.1962, c. 198, s. 4.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-7 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-7 - Purchase of necessary materials

48:2-7. Purchase of necessary materials  The board shall purchase such materials, apparatus and measuring instruments as it may deem necessary.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-8 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-8 - Connection with public utilities or government office.

48:2-8 Connection with public utilities or government office.  48:2-8. No member or employee of the board shall have any official or professional relation or connection with, or hold any stock or securities in, any public utility as herein defined, operating within this State, or hold any other office of profit or trust under the government of this State or of the United States; except that a member may hold an office under the government of this State for which the member does not receive a salary. amended 1962, c.198, s.5; 1973, c.294, s.3; 2020, c.36.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-9 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-9 - Reports of findings and decisions; publications

48:2-9. Reports of findings and decisions; publications  The board shall furnish its secretary or in his absence an assistant secretary such of its findings and decisions as, in its judgment, may be of general public interest. The secretary or in his absence an assistant secretary shall compile the same for the purpose of publication in a series of volumes to be designated "Reports of the Board of Public Utility Commissioners of the State of New Jersey," which shall be published in such form and manner as may be best adapted for public information and use. Such publications shall be competent evidence of the reports and decisions of the commission therein contained without any further proof or authentication thereof. The contents of the reports shall not be under the supervision or control of the official State editor. Amended by L.1962, c. 198, s. 6.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-10 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-10 - Certified copies of records as evidence

48:2-10. Certified copies of records as evidence  Copies of all official documents and orders filed or deposited in the office of the board, certified by a member thereof or the secretary to be true copies, under the official seal of the board, shall be evidence in like manner as the originals in all courts of this State. The board may charge and collect for such copies in accordance with section 48:2-56. The fees so collected shall be paid into the treasury of the State. Amended by L.1962, c. 198, s. 7.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-10.1 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-10.1 - Definitions.

48:2-10.1 Definitions.  1. As used in sections 1 through 4 of P.L.2021, c.96 (C.48:2-10.1, C.48:2-10.2, C.48:2-32.8, and C.48:2-32.9): "Board" means the Board of Public Utilities or any successor agency. "Contested case" shall have the same meaning as provided in section 2 of P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-2). "Emergency" means a period of time during which the Governor has declared the existence of a public health emergency, pursuant to section 3 of P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-3), or a state of emergency, pursuant to P.L.1942, c.251 (C.App.A:9-33 et seq.). "Policy matter" means a matter: a. where the board conducts quasi-legislative proceedings that are informational, intended to provide a forum for the expression of public sentiment on a proposed agency action, or to examine broad policy issues affecting entire industries or large, undefined classes of people; b. where the board has not established a proceeding; or c. that is not the subject of a pending or impending contested case.  "Public document search system" or "search system" means the electronic public document search system established, maintained, and updated, as appropriate, by the board, through the board's Internet website, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.2021, c.96 (C.48:2-10.2). L.2021, c.96, s.1.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-10.2 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-10.2 - Electronic public document search system.

48:2-10.2 Electronic public document search system.  2. a. No later than 90 days after the effective date of P.L.2021, c.96 (C.48:2-10.1 et al.), the board shall establish, maintain, and update, as appropriate, an electronic public document search system, through the board's Internet website, that shall allow users to obtain board proceeding documents and docket information online. The search system shall reflect all filings and comments made to the board, in electronic or in printed form, and shall provide for the managing and facilitating of public access to all filings, orders, notices, rulemakings, comments, or other board proceeding documents, as well as allow parties to electronically file these documents. The search system shall be subject to all of the following requirements: (1) as soon as practicable, and not later than seven calendar days after a document is electronically filed with the board, the document shall be publicly accessible on the search system, unless a longer period of time is needed, as determined by the board, due to an emergency or to address confidentiality, other privacy claims, or digitization of non-electronic records;  (2) all documents on the search system shall be available to the public free of charge; (3) any information within a document that is prohibited from public disclosure by law or board order shall be exempt from inclusion in the search system; (4) all board-initiated documents shall be text-searchable and in a machine-readable format and the board shall encourage the filing of documents in text-searchable and machine-readable formats, which capabilities shall be preserved in the search system; (5) to the extent practicable, external websites shall be able to link documents to the search system; (6) the board shall provide access to all digital audio and visual files of board recordings when those files become available on its website, and shall explore the technical and financial practicality of including its recordings in the search system; and (7) the search system shall provide a search function for public use. b. In developing the search system, the board shall implement technology in order to improve security, data accessibility, affordability, and performance, and to minimize the burden on pro se litigants. L.2021, c.96, s.2.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-11 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-11 - Annual report

48:2-11. Annual report  The board shall report annually on or before January 15, to the Governor, making such recommendations as it may deem proper. The report shall be laid before the next succeeding Legislature. Amended by L.1962, c. 198, s. 8.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-12 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-12 - Rules

48:2-12. Rules  The board may make all needful rules for its government and other proceedings.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-13.1 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-13.1 - Rural, electric cooperatives; powers of board

48:2-13.1. Rural, electric cooperatives; powers of board  Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, rule or regulation to the contrary, with respect to a rural, electric cooperative which is exclusively owned and controlled by the consumers it serves, the Board of Public Utilities shall not exercise any jurisdiction or control over the rates, charges or operation of the cooperative nor shall the approval of the board be required to authorize or validate any mortgage or encumbrance of real property of or the issuance or execution of any evidence of indebtedness by the cooperative, except that the board shall retain its jurisdiction to determine disputes concerning the territory served or to be served by an electric cooperative. L.1983, c. 78, s. 1, eff. Feb. 24, 1983.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-13.1a (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-13.1a - Customers of rural electric cooperative, electronic billing, payment permitted.

48:2-13.1a Customers of rural electric cooperative, electronic billing, payment permitted.  11. Upon the request of a customer, a rural electric cooperative may: a. offer the customer the ability to receive or access, in electronic format, any periodic bill for service sent by such cooperative to its customers and any additional information sent by the cooperative to its customers as required by law, provided that any notice of disconnection, discontinuance or termination of service shall be sent to a customer in written form at the customer's legal mailing address in addition to being sent or being made available in electronic format; and b. provide the customer of such cooperative the option of paying any such periodic bill via electronic means. L.2010, c.91, s.11.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-13.2 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-13.2 - Limited jurisdiction of Board of Public Utilities over certain nonpublicly-owned, nonprofit water companies

48:2-13.2 Limited jurisdiction of Board of Public Utilities over certain nonpublicly-owned, nonprofit water companies  1. The provisions of any law, rule, regulation or order to the contrary notwithstanding, with respect to a nonpublicly-owned, nonprofit water company which is exclusively owned and controlled by the consumers it serves, and provided that a majority of the entire membership of the association which controls the water company approves, the Board of Public Utilities shall not exercise any jurisdiction or control over the rates, charges or operations of the company; and the approval of the board shall not be required to authorize or validate any mortgage or encumbrance of real property, or the issuance or execution of any evidence of indebtedness by the company, except that the board shall retain its jurisdiction to determine disputes concerning the territory served or to be served by the company. L.1997,c.203.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-14 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-14 - Approval of grants by municipalities of franchises and privileges to public utilities

48:2-14. Approval of grants by municipalities of franchises and privileges to public utilities  No privilege or franchise granted after May first, one thousand nine hundred and eleven, to any public utility by a political subdivision of this state shall be valid until approved by the board. Such approval shall be given when, after hearing, the board determines that the privilege or franchise is necessary and proper for the public convenience and properly conserves the public interests. In granting its approval the board may impose such conditions as to construction, equipment, maintenance, service or operation as the public convenience and interests may reasonably require. Nothing herein shall require the approval by the board of any consent of a municipality or board of boulevard commissioners for the operation of any autobus in effect March twenty-fourth, one thousand nine hundred and twenty-six, which did not then require such approval to be valid.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-15 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-15 - Authority over interstate commerce; interstate co-operation

48:2-15. Authority over interstate commerce; interstate co-operation  (a) The board or the members thereof, whenever authorized by an Act of Congress to exercise any power or authority over interstate commerce, shall have full power and authority to administer the provisions of such act within this State, and in cases authorized under such act, in co-operation with boards of other States and the Interstate Commerce Commission. (b) The board shall have all the power, and shall exercise its authority to regulate the transportation by any carrier for hire of passengers and property by land, water or air, between any place in this State and any place in another State or between places in this State whether or not partly through another State, including regulation of the adequacy of service and the safety of operation and equipment, except power and authority which has been heretofore expressly reserved to the United States by a valid enactment of the Congress of the United States, or which is hereafter so reserved by such an enactment of the Congress under powers delegated to the United States by the Constitution of the United States. (c) The board, in exercising the power and authority granted to it by this section, shall co-operate with any similar duly constituted agency of any adjoining State in respect to the transportation of passengers and property between any place in this State and any place in an adjoining State or between places in this State partly through an adjoining State, and the board shall enforce the decision of any such agency of any adjoining State in respect to any such transportation through or within this State unless it shall affirmatively find that the action or omission to act required by the decision of any such agency of any adjoining State (1) is not required for the public convenience and necessity and (2) is detrimental to the best interest of the people of this State. Amended by L.1957, c. 13, p. 31, s. 1, eff. April 3, 1957.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-16 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-16 - Supervisory and regulatory powers in general

48:2-16. Supervisory and regulatory powers in general  1. The board may, after hearing, upon notice, by order in writing, require every public utility: Compliance with laws and ordinances. (a) To comply with the laws of the State and any municipal ordinance relating thereto, and to conform to the duties imposed upon it thereby or by the provisions of its own charter, whether obtained under general or special law of this State. 2. The board may, upon notice, by order in writing require every public utility: System of accounts. (a) To keep its books, records and accounts so as to afford an intelligent understanding of the conduct of its business and to that end require every public utility of the same class to adopt a uniform system of accounting. Such system shall conform, in so far as in the judgment of the board is practicable, to any system adopted or approved by any Federal regulatory agency having jurisdiction. Periodic reports. (b) To furnish periodically a detailed report of finances and operations in such form and containing such matters as the board may from time to time prescribe. Notice of accidents. (c) To give such notice to the board as the board may by rule require, of any and all accidents which may occur within the State upon the property of any public utility directly or indirectly arising from or connected with its maintenance or operation, and the board may investigate any such accident and make such order or recommendation with respect thereto as in its judgment may be just and reasonable. Amended by L.1962, c. 198, s. 10.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-16.1 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-16.1 - Examination and audit of accounts

48:2-16.1. Examination and audit of accounts  The Board may provide for the examination and audit of all accounts and may determine, after notice and hearing, the propriety of the allocation and entry of parts of items to 2 or more accounts, and the propriety of the entry of any items, and of the account or accounts in which they are entered, upon the books of a public utility. L.1962, c. 198, s. 29.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-16.2 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-16.2 - Inspection and examination of books and records

48:2-16.2. Inspection and examination of books and records  The board's officers and employees may, under direction of the board, inspect and examine all books, accounts, papers, records and memoranda kept by any public utility in respect of any matter within the board's jurisdiction and which would not be privileged in any judicial proceeding. L.1962, c. 198, s. 30.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-16.3 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-16.3 - Failure to file annual report on date due; penalty

48:2-16.3. Failure to file annual report on date due; penalty  Any public utility that shall fail to file any annual report on the day on which it shall be due, shall be subject to a penalty of $5.00 for each day thereafter until such report is filed. The Board of Public Utility Commissioners, if satisfied that the failure to comply with this provision was excusable, may waive the whole or part of the penalty herein imposed. L.1971, c. 127, s. 1, eff. May 6, 1971.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-16.4 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-16.4 - Management audits

48:2-16.4. Management audits  The Board of Public Utilities shall establish procedures to provide for management audits to be performed on a regular or irregular schedule on all or any portion of the operating procedures and any other internal workings of every gas or electric utility subject to its jurisdiction. In any case where the board determines that an audit is necessary or desirable, it may order the audit to be performed by members of its staff, or it may require that the audit be performed under the supervision of designated members of the board's staff by an independent management consulting firm selected by the utility from a list provided by the board for the audit, which list shall include the names of at least five qualified firms, at least two of which shall be of nationally recognized stature. An audit shall be conducted at least once every 3 years, except where the board finds that an audit is unnecessary. In no event, however, shall an audit be conducted less than once every 6 years. All expenses of the audits shall be borne by the affected utilities. The results of each audit shall be filed with the board and shall be open to public inspection. Upon completion and review of an audit, if the person or firm performing or supervising the audit determines that any of the operating procedures or any other internal workings of the affected utility are inefficient, improvident, unreasonable, negligent or an abuse of discretion, the board may, after notice and opportunity for a hearing, order the affected public utility to adopt such new or altered practices and procedures as the board shall find to be necessary to promote efficient and adequate service to meet the public convenience and necessity. All reasonable and proper costs and expenses, as determined by the board, of complying with any order of the board pursuant to this act shall be recognized by the board for all purposes as proper business expenses of the affected utility. Nothing in this act shall be deemed to interfere or conflict with any powers of the board or its staff to conduct an audit, investigation or review of the books, records and accounts of any gas or electric utility under its jurisdiction. L.1982, c. 222, s. 1, eff. Dec. 30, 1982.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-17 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-17 - Filing list of officials and their duties with board

48:2-17. Filing list of officials and their duties with board  The board may require every public utility to file with the board a statement in writing, verified by the oaths of the president and secretary of the public utility, setting forth the name, title of office or position and post-office address, and the authority, power and duties of every officer, member of the board of directors, trustees, executive committee, superintendent, chief or head of construction and operation, or department, division or line of construction and operation thereof, in such form as to disclose the source and origin of each administrative act, rule, decision, order or other action of the corporation. Every public utility shall, within 10 days after any change is made in the title of, or authority, powers or duties appertaining to any such office or position or the person holding the same, file with the board a like statement, verified in like manner, setting forth such change. Every public utility shall file with the board the name, address and telephone number of the person or persons whom the board may contact, at any time, in the event of an emergency. Amended by L.1962, c. 198, s. 11.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-18 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-18 - Depreciation accounts; rates of depreciation; conformity to rates

48:2-18. Depreciation accounts; rates of depreciation; conformity to rates  The board may, after hearing, upon notice, by order in writing, require every public utility to carry, whenever in the judgment of the board it may reasonably be required for the protection of stockholders, bondholders or creditors, a proper and adequate depreciation account in accordance with such rules, regulations and forms of account as the board may prescribe. The board shall from time to time ascertain and determine, and by order in writing after hearing, fix proper and adequate rates of depreciation of the property of each public utility in accordance with such regulations or classifications. Such rates shall be sufficient to provide the amounts required, over and above the expense of maintenance, to keep the property in a state of efficiency corresponding to the progress of the industry. Each public utility shall conform its depreciation accounts to the rate so ascertained. Amounts so provided shall not be expended otherwise than for depreciation, improvements, new construction, replacements, extensions or additions to the property of the public utility or for the retirement of debt incurred in connection therewith. Amended by L.1962, c. 198, s. 12.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-19 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-19 - Investigations; valuation of property of public utility

48:2-19. Investigations; valuation of property of public utility  The board may: a. Investigate upon its own initiative or upon complaint in writing any matter concerning any public utility; b. Appraise and value the property of any public utility whenever in the judgment of the board it shall be necessary so to do for the purpose of carrying out any of the provisions of this chapter. In making such valuation the board may have access to and use any books, documents or records in the possession of any department or board of the state or any political subdivision thereof.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-20 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-20 - Testing appliances; access to premises; fees

48:2-20. Testing appliances; access to premises; fees  The board may: a. Provide for the examination and test of any and all appliances used for the measuring of any product or service of a public utility; b. By its agents, experts or examiners, enter upon any premises occupied by a public utility for the purpose of making the examinations and tests provided for in this chapter and to set up and use on such premises any apparatus and appliances necessary therefor; c. Fix the fees to be paid by any consumer or user of any product or service of a public utility who may apply to the board for such examination or test to be made. Any consumer or user may have any such appliance tested upon the payment of the fees fixed by the board. If the appliance be found defective or incorrect to the disadvantage of the consumer or user such fees shall be repaid to him by the public utility.