reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-21.1 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-21.1 - Adjustment of rates during pendency of hearing

48:2-21.1. Adjustment of rates during pendency of hearing  The board may, during the pendency of any hearing instituted by it, on its own initiative or on petition, in which the approval or fixing of just and reasonable individual rates, joint rates, tolls, charges or schedules thereof, as well as commutation, mileage or other special rates is in issue, or at any other time, negotiate and agree with any public utility for an adjustment of the individual rates, joint rates, tolls, charges or schedules thereof, as well as commutation, mileage or other special rates for any product or service supplied or rendered by such public utility. Such adjustment may be for, or without, a specified limit of time. In no event shall any such adjustment be regarded as contractual. Such adjustment shall at all times be subject to change through the proceedings provided for by this chapter, or through negotiation and agreement under this section. The board as a part of any such negotiation and adjustment shall provide for the continuance, suspension or other disposition of any hearing of the character aforesaid then pending. Amended by L.1962, c. 198, s. 14.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-21.2 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-21.2 - Circumstances under which board not required to find rate base

48:2-21.2. Circumstances under which board not required to find rate base  In arriving at any determination as to the justness or reasonableness of any existing rate, fare or charge or in prescribing a just and reasonable rate, fare or charge, the board shall not be bound: 1. To find a rate base, if it determines that (a) the applicable operating expenses plus depreciation and taxes of conducting the business, for which the rate, fare or charge is established, computed on the basis of the 12 months next preceding the month in which the proceeding is initiated, exceeds the revenue from such operation, during said period, under the existing rates, fares or charges and that the revenue under the proposed increased rates, fares or charges will not exceed such operating expenses, depreciation and taxes, or (b) the gross operating revenue of the public utility, computed on the basis of the 12 months next preceding the month in which the proceeding is initiated, exceeds the depreciated book cost of its property used and useful in its business as a public utility, or (c) the product or service is a new offering and not covered by an existing rate, fare or charge approved by the board. When the board shall prescribe a rate, fare or charge without finding a rate base, it shall, in its determination, make a finding of the facts on the basis of which it prescribed such rate, fare or charge. L.1962, c. 198, s. 31.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-21.3 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-21.3 - Stipulations extending suspension periods or waiving effective dates of tariffs or rates

48:2-21.3. Stipulations extending suspension periods or waiving effective dates of tariffs or rates  Any public utility may file with the board a written stipulation subject to the board's approval at any time extending the suspension periods provided for in this chapter or waiving the effective date of any tariff or rate. L.1962, c. 198, s. 32.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-21.10 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-21.10 - Expenses incurred in complying with the worker and community right to know act considered as current expenses

48:2-21.10. Expenses incurred in complying with the worker and community right to know act considered as current expenses  The Board of Public Utilities shall consider all expenses incurred by a public utility in complying with the provisions of P.L.1983, c.315 (C.34:5A-1 et seq. ) as a current expense of providing utility service, which shall be charged to all ratepayers of the utility in the same manner as other current operating expenses of providing utility service. L.1983, c. 315, s. 28, eff. Aug. 29, 1984.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-21.11 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-21.11 - Moneys received as reimbursement for costs incurred from insurance carrier or as result of legal action or settlement as moneys available

48:2-21.11. Moneys received as reimbursement for costs incurred from insurance carrier or as result of legal action or settlement as moneys available  In determining just and reasonable rates for any electric utility pursuant to R.S. 48:2-21, R.S. 48:2-21.1, or section 31 of P.L.1962, c. 198 (C. 48:2-21.2), the Board of Public Utilities shall provide that any moneys received by the utility as reimbursement for costs incurred, including those for replacement energy, from any insurance carrier, or as a result of any legal action or settlement shall be accounted for as moneys available to the utility. L.1983, c. 461, s. 1, eff. Jan. 12, 1984.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-21.12 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-21.12 - Adjustment to rates to provide reimbursements received are applied to reduction of utility rates

48:2-21.12. Adjustment to rates to provide reimbursements received are applied to reduction of utility rates  The board shall make an appropriate adjustment to the rates charged to rate payers to provide that any reimbursements so received are applied properly for reducing utility rates at the utility's rate hearing next following the utility's receipt of those moneys if the board determines that those reimbursed costs are also being charged to rate payers. L.1983, c. 461, s. 2, eff. Jan. 12, 1984.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-21.13 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-21.13 - Inapplicability of act to reimbursements under $100,000

48:2-21.13. Inapplicability of act to reimbursements under $100,000  The provisions of this act shall not apply to moneys reimbursed which are less than $100,000.00. L.1983, c. 461, s. 3, eff. Jan. 12, 1984.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-21.14 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-21.14 - Fines, penalties not operating expense

48:2-21.14. Fines, penalties not operating expense  In determining just and reasonable rates for any electric utility pursuant to R.S. 48:2-21, R.S. 48:2-21.1, or section 31 of P.L. 1962, c. 198 (C. 48:2-21.2), the board shall not allow as an operating expense, any fines or penalties imposed pursuant to law and paid by the utility.  L. 1988, c. 100, s. 1..
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-21.15 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-21.15 - Rate reduction

48:2-21.15. Rate reduction  Any telecommunications carrier other than a telephone company, that is no longer subject to taxation on personal property pursuant to R.S. 54:4-1 et seq., or to taxation upon its gross receipts pursuant to P.L. 1940, c. 4 (C. 54:30A-16 et seq.) as a result of the amendments to sections 2 and 3 of P.L. 1940, c. 4 (C. 54:30A-17 and 54:30A-18) and to R.S. 54:4-1 made in sections 2, 3 and 4 of P.L. 1989, c. 2 shall, within 90 days of the operative date of this act, petition the Board of Public Utilities for a reduction in its rates. The board shall institute a hearing on the petition, and at the conclusion of the hearing shall determine the amount of the reduction in the rate base of the telecommunications carrier which reflects the elimination of the tax liability of such carrier under those amendments. The rate reduction shall not take effect prior to January 1 next following enactment of this act.  L. 1989, c. 3, s. 19.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-21.16 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-21.16 - Findings, declarations

48:2-21.16. Findings, declarations  1. a. The Legislature finds and declares that it is the policy of the State to:  (1) Maintain universal telecommunications service at affordable rates. (2) Ensure that customers pay only reasonable charges for local exchange telecommunications services, which shall be available on a non-discriminatory basis.  (3) Ensure that rates for noncompetitive telecommunications services do not subsidize the competitive ventures of providers of telecommunications service.  (4) Provide diversity in the supply of telecommunications services and products in telecommunications markets throughout the State.  (5) Permit the board the authority to approve alternative forms of regulation in order to address changes in technology and the structure of the telecommunications industry; to modify the regulation of competitive services; and to promote economic development.  b. The Legislature further finds and declares that: (1) In a competitive marketplace, traditional utility regulation is not necessary to protect the public interest and that competition will promote efficiency, reduce regulatory delay, and foster productivity and innovation.  (2) Whether measured by the number of interexchange companies operating in New Jersey, the variety and number of services and/or competitive alternatives, or barriers to entry, the interexchange telecommunications marketplace in New Jersey is sufficiently competitive to relieve interexchange telecommunications carriers from traditional utility regulation.  (3) Permitting the competitive interexchange telecommunications marketplace to operate without traditional utility regulation will produce a wider selection of services at competitive market-based prices.  (4) The board has found the interexchange telecommunications market place sufficiently competitive to relieve interexchange carriers from traditional utility regulation but found it lacked the authority to eliminate unnecessary regulatory constraints under the existing public utility statute.  (5) It is in the public interest to relieve interexchange telecommunications carriers from traditional utility regulation.  L.1991,c.428,s.1.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-21.17 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-21.17 - Definitions.

48:2-21.17 Definitions.  2. As used in this act: "Alternative form of regulation" means a form of regulation of telecommunications services other than traditional rate base, rate of return regulation to be determined by the board and may include, but not be limited to, the use of an index, formula, price caps, or zone of rate freedom.  "Assess" means, in relation to the Director of the Division of Rate Counsel in, but not of, the Department of the Treasury, the making of any assessment or statement of the compensation and expense of counsel, experts and assistants employed by rate counsel and billed by the Director of the Division of Rate Counsel in, but not of, the Department of the Treasury as a final agency order or determination to a local exchange telecommunications company or an interexchange telecommunications carrier filing a petition with the Board of Regulatory Commissioners pursuant to the provisions of this act.  "Board" means the Board of Regulatory Commissioners or its predecessor agency.  "Competitive service" means any telecommunications service determined by the board to be competitive prior to the effective date of this act or determined to be competitive pursuant to section 4 or 5 of this act, or any telecommunications service not regulated by the board.  "Interexchange telecommunications carrier" means a carrier, other than a local exchange telecommunications company, authorized by the board to provide long-distance telecommunications services.  "LATA" means Local Access Transport Area as defined by the board in conformance with applicable federal law.  "Local exchange telecommunications company" means a carrier authorized by the board to provide local telecommunications services.  "Protected telephone services" means any of the following telecommunications services provided by a local exchange telecommunications company, unless the board determines, after notice and hearing, that any of these services is competitive or should no longer be a protected telephone service: telecommunications services provided to business or residential customers for the purpose of completing local calls; touch-tone service or similar service; access services other than those services that the board has previously found to be competitive; toll service provided by a local exchange telecommunications company; and the ordering, installation and restoration of these services.  "Rate counsel" means the Division of Rate Counsel in, but not of, the Department of the Treasury acting pursuant to sections 46 through 54 of P.L.2005, c.155 (C.52:27EE-46 through C.52:27EE-54), as amended and supplemented by P.L.2010, c.34 (C.52:27EE-86 et al.).  "Telecommunications service" means any telecommunications service which is subject to regulation by the board pursuant to Title 48 of the Revised Statutes.  L.1991, c.428, s.2; amended 2010, c.34, s.13.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-21.18 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-21.18 - Plans for alternative form of regulation, petition, requirements

48:2-21.18. Plans for alternative form of regulation, petition, requirements  3. a. A local exchange telecommunications company may petition the board to be regulated under an alternative form of regulation. The company shall submit its plan for an alternative form of regulation with its petition. The company shall also file its petition and plan concurrently with the Director of the Division of Rate Counsel. The board shall review the plan and may approve the plan, or approve with modifications, if it finds, after notice and hearing, that the plan:  (1) will ensure the affordability of protected telephone services; (2) will produce just and reasonable rates for telecommunications services;  (3) will not unduly or unreasonably prejudice or disadvantage a customer class or providers of competitive services;  (4) will reduce regulatory delay and costs;  (5) is in the public interest;  (6) will enhance economic development in the State while maintaining affordable rates;  (7) contains a comprehensive program of service quality standards, with procedures for board monitoring and review; and  (8) specifically identifies the benefits to be derived from the alternative form of regulation.  b. Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S.48:2-18, R.S.48:2-21, R.S.48:3-1.1 and section 31 of P.L.1962, c.198 (C.48:2-21.2) or any other law to the contrary, in determining just and reasonable rates, the board may authorize a local exchange telecommunications company to set rates based on an alternative form of regulation pursuant to a plan approved under subsection a. of this section.  c. No local exchange telecommunications company may use revenues earned or expenses incurred in conjunction with noncompetitive services to subsidize competitive services.  d. The board shall have the power to require an independent audit or such accounting and reporting systems from local exchange telecommunications companies as are necessary to allow a proper allocation of investments, costs or expenses for all telecommunications services, competitive or noncompetitive, subject to the jurisdiction of the board.  L.1991,c.428,s.3.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-21.20 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-21.20 - Interexchange carrier services deemed competitive, standards

48:2-21.20. Interexchange carrier services deemed competitive, standards  5. a. For purposes of subsection a. of section 4 of this act, telecommunications services provided by interexchange telecommunications carriers are deemed to be competitive services.  b. Nothing in this act shall affect the board's authority to determine whether and under what terms and conditions it will permit interexchange telecommunications carriers to offer intraLATA services within the State.  c. The board may establish service quality standards for interexchange telecommunications carriers and nothing in this act shall limit the authority of the board to promulgate service quality standards for interexchange telecommunications carriers or to resolve complaints regarding the quality of interexchange telecommunications carrier service.  d. Nothing in the act shall limit the authority of the board to determine whether an interexchange telecommunications carrier should be extended the privilege of operating within this State.  L.1991,c.428,s.5.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-21.21 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-21.21 - Rate counsel assessments

48:2-21.21. Rate counsel assessments  6. Whenever rate counsel represents the public interest pursuant to its statutory authority in the review of the petition and plan filed by a local exchange telecommunications company or an interexchange telecommunications carrier with the board pursuant to the provisions of this act, the Director of the Division of Rate Counsel may assess each participating local exchange telecommunications company or interexchange carrier for reimbursement to the Treasurer of the State of New Jersey pursuant to section 20 of P.L.1974, c.27 (C.52:17E-19).  L.1991,c.428,s.6.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-21.22 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-21.22 - Findings, declarations relative to AOS providers.

48:2-21.22 Findings, declarations relative to AOS providers.  1. The Legislature finds and declares that: a. In 1991, the Legislature acted to exempt competitive telecommunications services from traditional public utility regulation upon a finding that this type of regulation is generally not necessary to protect the public interest in the competitive marketplace. However, in its report to the Governor and Legislature on the implementation of P.L.1991, c.428 (C.48:2-21.16 et seq.) the Board of Public Utilities found that where a captive market exists for competitive telecommunications services, market conditions are not always able to protect the public interest. b. In particular, the board received many complaints concerning "alternate operator service" providers, which provide operator assistance for collect, third-party billed, and credit card calls, usually at pay phones on the premises of hotels, restaurants, hospitals, or airports, with these establishments receiving a commission for calls placed through the alternate operator service arrangement. Given the provisions of P.L.1991, c.428 (C.48:2-21.16 et seq.), there has been some debate on the extent of the board's authority to protect consumers' interests with regard to alternate operator service providers. c. It is appropriate, therefore, that the Legislature act to clarify the powers of the board with regard to alternate operator service providers, and to specifically require the board to take appropriate action, including, but not limited to, rate and terms and conditions of service regulation, to protect the interests of consumers of alternate operator service providers. L.1995, c.172, s.1; amended 2013, c.278, s.1.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-21.23 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-21.23 - Regulation of the alternate operator service provider; definition.

48:2-21.23 Regulation of the alternate operator service provider; definition.  2. Notwithstanding the provisions of P.L.1991, c.428 (C.48:2-21.16 et seq.) or any other law to the contrary, the Board of Public Utilities shall regulate the rates and terms and conditions of service of an alternate operator service provider, in a manner consistent with federal law, and use any other means necessary pursuant to law, rule, or regulation to protect the users of the services of an alternate operator service provider. As used in this section, "alternate operator service provider" means a non-facilities based telecommunications carrier who is a reseller leasing lines from a local exchange telecommunications company and an interexchange telecommunications carrier, as those terms are defined in section 2 of P.L.1991, c.428 (C.48:2-21.17), and who, using these leased facilities along with its own operators, provides operator-assisted services. L.1995, c.172, s.2; amended 2013, c.278, s.2.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-21.25 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-21.25 - Definitions

48:2-21.25. Definitions  2. As used in this act: "Alternative form of regulation" means a form of regulation of electric or gas utility services other than traditional rate base, rate of return regulation as embodied in Title 48 of the Revised Statutes, to be determined by the board;  "Base rate case" means an open, public hearing before the Board of Public Utilities to consider a filing by a public utility for a change in base rates, which includes an analysis of the public utility's income statement and balance sheet for the purpose of determining the level of revenues necessary to afford the public utility an opportunity to earn a fair and reasonable rate of return on prudently incurred capital investment in the public utility's rate base;  "Board" means the Board of Public Utilities or any successor agency;  "Competitive market" means a market for a particular utility service that is characterized by the existence of a number of purveyors, the availability of like or substitute service, ease of market entry, and such other standards as may be adopted by the board;  "Comprehensive energy audit" means an assessment of all energy-using systems to determine the consumption characteristics of a building which shall (1) identify the type, size, and rate of energy consumption of such building, including industrial processes in the building; (2) identify appropriate energy conservation maintenance and operating procedures; and (3) indicate the need, if any, for the acquisition and installation of energy conservation measures;  "Cross subsidization" means an undue transfer of cost allocation or revenue recovery responsibility;  "Demand side management" means the management of a public utility's existing or future capacity or energy needs through the implementation of cost-effective energy efficiency technologies, including, but not limited to, installed conservation, load management and energy efficiency measures in the residential, commercial, industrial, institutional and governmental premises and facilities in the State;  "Marginal energy and capacity cost" means the incremental increase in a utility's energy and capacity costs associated with providing an additional increment of utility service, over a specified time period;  "Market pricing" means charging a negotiated price for utility service which is based upon the price available in a competitive marketplace, as opposed to a cost-of-service based tariff rate;  "Off-tariff rate" means a rate for utility service charged by a utility to a retail customer that is the result of a negotiation between the utility and the customer, rather than being based solely on a cost-of-service based tariff rate; and  "Revenue erosion" means a reduction in revenues received by a utility resulting from the provision of an off-tariff rate to a customer, as measured by the difference between the cost-of-service based tariff rate and the off-tariff rate, as applied to the sales to that customer.  L.1995,c.180,s.2.
NJ Rev Stat § 48:2-21.29 (2021)
2021 New Jersey Revised Statutes|Title 48 - Public Utilities|Section 48:2-21.29 - Reports

48:2-21.29. Reports  6. The Board of Public Utilities shall submit a report to the Legislature on the implementation of P.L.1995, c.180 (C.48:2-21.24 et seq.) and of the restructuring of the electric power industry pursuant to P.L.1999, c.23 (C.48:3-49 et al.) on December 1 of the third year following the effective date of P.L.1999, c.23 (C.48:3-49 et al.) and every four years thereafter. L.1995,c.180,s.6; amended 1999, c.23, s.56.