New Jersey A 2235: Requires electric and gas public utilities de-privatization study; appropriates $100,000.

Bill Text

A2235 

ASSEMBLY, No. 2235 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

� 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman SHANIQUE SPEIGHT

District 29 (Essex and Hudson)

Assemblywoman VERLINA REYNOLDS-JACKSON

District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)

SYNOPSIS

���� Requires electric and gas public utilities 
de-privatization study; appropriates $100,000.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT 

���� Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative 
Counsel.

�� 

An Act requiring a study on the de-privatization of certain 
public utilities and making an appropriation.

���� Be It 
Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of 
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� a.� As used in this 
section:� 

���� �Division� means the New 
Jersey Division of the Rate Counsel or a successor agency.� 

���� �Clean energy program� means a 
program administered by a public entity, which program incentivizes or 
otherwise promotes increased energy efficiency and the use of clean, renewable 
sources of energy, which sources shall include, but shall not be limited to, solar, 
wind, geothermal, and sustainable biomass.� 

���� �Electric public utility� 
means a public utility, as that term is defined in R.S.48:2-13, that transmits 
and distributes electricity to end users within the State.� 

���� �Gas public utility� means a 
public utility, as that term is defined in R.S.48:2-13, that distributes gas to 
end users within the State.� 

���� �Public entity� means any of 
the principal departments in the Executive Branch of the State government, and 
any division, board, bureau, office, commission, or other instrumentality 
within or created by such department or by any political subdivision.� 

���� �Third party� means an entity that 
has no past or present ownership interest, financial stake, contractual 
obligation, spousal affiliation, lobbying activities, employment or contractor 
status, or formal connection with an electric public utility, a gas public 
utility, or a public entity, ensuring complete independence from direct or 
indirect influence by an electric public utility, a gas public utility, or a 
public entity in the third party�s decision-making or operations.� ����� b.�������� The 
Division of the Rate Counsel shall engage a third party to conduct a study on 
the feasibility of and cost savings associated with the de-privatization of 
electric public utilities and gas public utilities in this State and shall 
direct the third party to conduct such analysis as the division shall deem 
appropriate for purposes of the study.� The third party engaged by the division 
shall have the authority to request information and reasonable assistance from 
any electric public utility, gas public utility, or public entity in order to 
conduct the study.� The study conducted pursuant to this section shall examine 
the feasibility of and cost savings associated with de-privatization options, 
including, but not limited to:� 

���� (1) acquisition or operation 
of existing electric public utilities and gas public utilities, in part or in 
whole, by a public entity; and

���� (2) joint ownership or 
operation of existing electric public utilities and gas public utilities, in 
part or in whole, between a public entity and existing electric public 
utilities and gas public utilities.� 

���� c.���� The study conducted 
pursuant to this section shall include, but not be limited to:� 

���� (1)�� the short- and long-term 
challenges and benefits of each option examined, including, but not limited to, 
any anticipated environmental effect, impact on service, and cost to 
ratepayers;

���� (2)�� the strengths and 
weaknesses of selecting each public entity considered for potential 
acquisition, ownership, or operation, in whole or in part, of electric public 
utilities and gas public utilities, as well as potential organizational 
structures.� Public entities to be considered shall include the division and 
any other appropriate public entity;

���� (3)�� an estimation of costs, 
including, but not limited to, financial costs, as well as the long-term 
financial impact on the State and any public entity involved in each option;

���� (4)�� an estimation of the 
cost savings associated with each option examined;

���� (5)�� an estimation of the 
amount of revenue generated by clean energy programs; and

���� (6)�� any other analysis as 
the division shall direct the third party to conduct.� 

���� d.��� Any electric public 
utility, gas public utility, or public entity shall promptly respond to, 
cooperate fully with, and provide any requested information to the third party 
engaged by the division pursuant to subsection b. of this section.� 

���� e.���� Within one year after 
the effective date of this act, the division shall submit a written report to 
the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to 
the Legislature summarizing the findings from the study and providing recommendations 
as to th