New Jersey A 526: Directs BPU to conduct study to determine whether deployment of microgrids and generators will reduce length of power outages.

Bill Text

(Sponsorship Updated As Of: 11/13/2025)
ASSEMBLY, No. 526

STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION

Sponsored by:
Assemblyman CHRISTIAN E. BARRANCO
District 25 (Morris and Somerset)

Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman Fantasia

SYNOPSIS
Directs BPU to conduct study to determine whether deployment of
microgrids and generators will reduce length of power outages.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.

A526 BARRANCO
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AN ACT directing the Board of Public Utilities to conduct a study to 1
determine whether the deployment of microgrids and generators 2
will reduce the length of power outages. 3
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BE IT ENACTED by the Senate and General Assembly of the State 5
of New Jersey: 6
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1. a. The Board of Public Utilities shall study, prepare, and 8
submit, within six months of the effective date of this act, to the 9
Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-10
19.1), to the Legislature, a written report that shall make findings 11
and recommendations concerning whether the utilization of 12
microgrids and the deployment of electric generators will assist in 13
reducing the length of long-term power outages in this State. The 14
board’s report shall also provide recommendations for 15
improvements to the resilience and reliability of the State’s electric 16
distribution system. 17
b. In conducting the study, the board shall: 18
(1) compare the general performance of this State’s electric 19
distribution system as compared to that of other states; 20
(2) assess the impact of the utilization of microgrids and the 21
deployment of electric generators on long-term power outages in 22
other states; 23
(3) consult with relevant persons and public and private entities 24
in this State and other states that have utilized microgrids during 25
power outages; 26
(4) consult with relevant electric public utilities in this State and 27
other states that have deployed electric generators to communities 28
during power outages; and 29
(5) consider the cost to ratepayers, municipalities, electric 30
public utilities, and the State associated with the implementation of 31
the findings and recommendations submitted pursuant to subsection 32
a. of this section. 33
c. For the purposes of this act, “microgrid” means a group of 34
interconnected loads and distributed energy resources within clearly 35
defined electrical boundaries that acts as a single controllable entity 36
with respect to the electric grid, which can connect and disconnect 37
from the electric grid to enable it to operate both connected to, or 38
independent of, the electric grid. 39
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2. This act shall take effect immediately. 41
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STATEMENT 44
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This bill directs the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to study, 46
prepare, and submit, within six months of the enactment of the bill, 47
to the Governor and to the Legislature a written report that is to 48

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contain findings and recommendations concerning whether the 1
utilization of microgrids and the deployment of electric generators 2
will assist in reducing the length of long-term power outages in this 3
State. The BPU’s report is to also provide recommendations for 4
improvements to the resilience and reliability of the State’s electric 5
distribution system. 6
In conducting the study, the BPU is to: 1) compare the general 7
performance of this State’s electric distribution system as compared 8
to that of other states; 2) assess the impact of the utilization of 9
microgrids and the deployment of electric generators on long-term 10
power outages in other states; 3) consult with relevant persons and 11
public and private entities in this State and other states that have 12
utilized microgrids during power outages; 4) consult with relevant 13
electric public utilities in this State and other states that have 14
deployed electric generators to communities during power outages; 15
5) and consider the cost to ratepayers, municipalities, electric public 16
utilities, and the State associated with the implementation of the 17
findings and recommendations submitted pursuant to this bill. 18
The bill defines “microgrid” as a group of interconnected loads 19
and distributed energy resources within clearly defined electrical 20
boundaries that acts as a single controllable entity with respect to 21
the electric grid, which can connect and disconnect from the electric 22
grid to enable it to operate both connected to, or independent of, the 23
electric grid. 24