Requires electric service providers to integrate energy storage systems into long-term planning process.

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

"Joe Piscopo Utility Emergency Call Center Act of 2025"; requires percentage of electric and gas public utilities' emergency call centers to be located within NJ.

Establishes "Neighborhood Solar Energy Investment Program."

Directs BPU to study whether State's electric distribution system meets certain standards.

Requires electric public utility to reimburse residential customer for cost of food and prescription medicine spoiled or compromised as a result of sustained electric service outage.

Requires electric public utility to install and operate smart meters and smart meter technology at customers' premises upon request and in new building construction.

Requires electric public utility to submit proposal to BPU detailing utility's plan to harden its electric distribution substations to protect against criminal attacks.

Requires public utilities to maintain customer billing records for duration of account and to refund full amount of any overpayment by customers.

Requires electric public utility to reimburse cost of certain customer-owned electric service equipment if damage to equipment is due to weather event affecting electric public utility service.

Prohibits EDA from issuing subsidies for wind energy projects.

Prohibits collecting of certain costs associated with offshore wind projects from ratepayers.

Establishes uniform rates for water and sewer services for residential use based exclusively on metered consumption.

Requires DCA to verify income of low-income home energy assistance benefit applicants.

Requires certain CATV companies to provide Internet service at public libraries with business customer class Internet access bandwidth and circuit capacity proportional to public libraries' needs.

Requires public utilities to provide customers notice of request for increase in rates; revises requirements related to hearings on proposed rate increases.

Allows electric public utilities to enter into agreements to place power restoration equipment on private property in anticipation of certain power outages.

Concerns electric and gas public utility rate setting procedures and economic impact studies.

Directs public utility to reimburse municipality for police services required for safe completion of public utility project no later than 60 days after municipality submits bill to public utility.

Prohibits utility from billing customer for costs incurred for certain upgrades to utility infrastructure; allows costs for certain upgrades to utility infrastructure be recovered in utility's rate base.

Requires public utility to reimburse business customer during period when business ceases operations due to utility repairing or replacing its equipment on business customer's property.

Requires at least one member of BPU to reside in either Atlantic, Cape May, Monmouth, or Ocean County.

Prohibits public utility from filing rate increase petition under certain circumstances.

Eliminates demand side management programs from cost recovery through societal benefits charge.

Modifies interest rates and accrual of interest on certain unpaid water and sewer utility bills and delinquent municipal taxes, assessments, and other municipal liens and charges.

Requires text messages soliciting home owners to provide notice when individuals sending solicitations are not licensed by New Jersey Real Estate Commission.

Provides electric public utility customers' right to decline installation of smart meter under certain circumstances.

Requires telecommunications companies to provide prorated refunds for service outages of longer than 72 hours.

"Vegetation Management Response Act"; concerns vegetation management related to electric public utility infrastructure.

Directs BPU to conduct study to determine whether microgrid and distributed energy resource deployment will reduce length of power outages.

Allows utility lines necessary for certain solar energy generation facilities to cross municipally-owned preserved open space under certain circumstances.

Requires public water systems to provide certain notice of boil water notices.

Directs certain unclaimed electric, gas, and water public utility deposits in Unclaimed Utility Deposits Trust Fund and societal charge revenues to be paid to Statewide nonprofit public utility assistance organizations meeting certain eligibility criteria.

Establishes "Energy Infrastructure Public-Private Partnerships Program"; amends law concerning NJ Infrastructure Bank; and authorizes certain energy contracts under "Public School Contracts Law" and "Local Public Contracts Law" up to 25 years.

Establishes "Community Power Storage Program."

Establishes advanced nuclear energy program in BPU.

Requires submission of energy usage plan to BPU for proposed artificial intelligence data centers; requires all electricity for artificial intelligence data centers to be derived from new clean energy sources.

Requires BPU to determine and consider lowest reasonable return on equity before approving electric, gas, and water public utility base rate cases.

Requires public utility to reimburse the State or local unit, in certain circumstances, for costs incurred in securing potentially dangerous condition caused by property controlled by the public utility.

Prohibits BPU from approving electric public utility rate increase without full rate review.

Prohibits electric and gas public utility rate increases except in extraordinary circumstances.

Requires removal of double utility poles upon notification by electric public utilities.

Expands EDA small business loan program to include certain broadband telecommunications service providers.

Establishes tax credits and financial grant related to construction and operation of advanced nuclear energy facilities.

Requires electric public utilities to implement flood mitigation plans for certain electric distribution substations; prohibits rate increase pending implementation of flood mitigation plans.

Establishes "Household Water Assistance Program"; appropriates $75 million.

"Small Modular Nuclear Energy Incentive Act."

Requires certain telecommunications, cable television, and public utility service providers to notify BPU of service discontinuance to public entities 14 business days prior to shutoff.

Requires boil water notices to be provided by certain public water systems via telephone, email or text message.

Expands Lifeline Credit and Tenants' Lifeline Assistance Programs to include assistance for water utility bill.

Provides students enrolled in certain career programs with consumer protections from fraudulent and misleading claims and practices.

Requires electric public utilities and gas public utilities to implement or maintain public utility warranty programs that cover full cost to repair or replace covered appliances.

Establishes electric and gas utility medical baseline program for certain persons.

Establishes pilot program for solar energy generation on roadside rights-of-way.

Requires owners of certain buildings to test drinking water for Legionella bacteria.

Requires BPU to develop program to promote certain energy businesses in State.

Requires electric public utilities to submit to BPU and implement electric infrastructure improvement plans.

Concerns local taxation of business personal property of local exchange telephone companies.

Directs BPU and electric utilities to establish distributed battery storage programs.

Exempts certain local utilities from certain land use approval requirements.

Requires electric public utilities to establish toll-free telephone number to be used by public for reporting damaged equipment and dangerous vegetation.

Prohibits public utilities from imposing surcharge on certain payment transactions.

Directs BPU to establish public information campaign concerning public utility meter inspection and calibration.

Imposes 30 percent electric public utility windfall surtax on certain taxpayers with allocated taxable net income in excess of 20 percent above five-year average income under CBT.

Prohibits public utilities from discontinuing residential electric, gas, water, and sewer service during coronavirus 2019 state of emergency; requires those utilities to implement deferred payment agreements for those services.

Requires regional representation for members of BPU.

Requires BPU to study potential deployment of advanced transmission technologies in NJ.

Requires electric, gas, and water public utilities to disseminate outage information to customers through autodialed telephone call, text message, and electronic mail alert service.

Requires BPU to review and report on rates and revenues of electric public utilities that use smart meters.

Requires public utility to charge volunteer emergency service organization residential rate.

Concerns credit card interchange fees and consumer protection.

Establishes School Connectivity Grant Program to expand access to online instruction for economically disadvantaged students; makes appropriation.

Prohibits sewerage authority from imposing connection fee in certain circumstances.

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

"Public Utility Fair Profit Act"; requires public utilities to take certain actions regarding excess profits and directs fines for violations to fund utility assistance programs.

Establishes targets for roadside solar projects in State's solar energy incentive program.

Prohibits manipulation of certain caller identification information.

Establishes alternative compliance payment to satisfy Class II renewable energy requirements.

Requires public utilities to mail customers detailed explanation of rate settlement agreements prior to final BPU vote.

Requires CATV company to establish toll-free telephone number for customers to report and to receive updates concerning CATV service outages.

Concerns electricity load forecasting.

Permits dual-use solar facilities to participate in community solar program.

Directs public utilities and pipeline operators to reimburse municipalities for certain emergency services.

Provides gross income tax deduction for costs of purchasing and installing battery backups for certain home solar electrical generators.

"Restore Local Offshore Wind Control Act"; prohibits construction of certain offshore wind project infrastructure without local governmental approval.

Establishes certain requirements for public utility rate increases.

Prohibits BPU approval of electric and gas public utility rate increases resulting in total increase to average residential customer bill in excess of two percent annually.

Authorizes Rate Counsel to deny certain public utility rate increases.

Requires BPU to provide funding for purchase and installation of photovoltaic technologies for age-restricted community clubhouse facilities from societal benefits charge.

Dedicates certain energy sales and use tax receipts to support utility assistance programs.

Prohibits collection of certain subscription fees under community solar program.

"Energy Security and Affordability Act"; requires BPU to consider energy security, diversity, and affordability when preparing Energy Master Plan and perform economic and ratepayer impact analysis of energy generation projects and Energy Master Plan.

Requires electric public utility to reimburse residential or commercial customer for cost of certain spoiled items resulting from service outage more than 48 hours after end of storm.

Prohibits public utilities from charging smart meter opt-out fees.

Prohibits public utility from recovering certain administrative costs.

Requires BPU to adjust societal benefits charge if excess funds are collected and provides that excess funds may only be spent on measures to reduce electric and natural gas usage.

Requires BPU to publish third-party energy supplier information on its Internet website; establishes public awareness campaign on retail choice.

Establishes Energy Facilities Siting Commission.

Establishes Power Generation Training Center to train workers in nuclear and non-nuclear power generation.

Requires owners or operators of certain solar energy facilities to inspect facility's infrastructure for presence of remote-access devices.

Requires electric public utility to reimburse customers for cost of certain spoiled products resulting from service outage more than 72 hours after end of storm.

Requires certain electric public utilities to file emergency response plan with BPU.

Requires certain public water systems to publish certain financial and employee information on Internet.

Creates "New Jersey Grid Modernization Task Force" in Governor's office.

Establishes New Jersey Low Income Household Water Assistance Program to provide water service and water bill payment assistance to certain low-income households; appropriates $25 million.

Revises and updates public utility franchise process; allows State's political subdivisions to revoke franchises; increases certain penalties.

Prohibits public utility from increasing rates until conclusion of hearing and BPU determination that rate increase is just and reasonable.

"Energy Subsidies Transparency Act"; authorizes BPU and Rate Counsel to require certain energy companies to disclose information concerning energy subsidies.

Requires electric transmission owners to join transmission entities.

Exempts small-scale renewable energy projects from State land-use permit requirements, under certain conditions.

Establishes surcharge for electric public utility service to certain data centers during certain periods; establishes "Grid Modernization Fund" in BPU.

Prohibits certain electric public utility rate increases and requires certain protections for ratepayers.

Prohibits electric public utilities from billing customers for certain services during service interruptions and requires repair of certain street lights.

Requires offshore wind project escrow funds to be remitted to BPU for certain ratepayer relief.

Exempts purchases of natural gas and electricity for residential customers from sales and use tax during coldest months of year.

"Electricity Bill Transparency Act"; requires electric utilities to separately list amounts of certain charges.

Exempts purchases of natural gas and electricity for residential customers from sales and use tax.

Requires BPU to respond in writing to written concerns of Division of Rate Counsel during certain proceedings.

Prohibits public utilities from recovering cost of legal penalties.

Requires legislative approval for energy master plan to become State policy.

Requires legislative approval of funding for certain BPU plans, programs, and projects.

"Grid Reliability Protection Act"; prohibits State agencies from decommissioning electric generation facilities in State under certain circumstances.

Prohibits electric and gas public utilities from implementing certain customer charges.

Requires public utility to provide daily updates to municipalities concerning public utility service work.

Directs BPU to establish virtual power plant program to reduce peak demand for electric energy.

Establishes NJ Affordable Connectivity Program to provide discounted broadband services to certain households; appropriates $10 million.

Requires telemarketers making sales calls to display name and telephone number on any caller identification service.

Requires electric public utilities to apply to BPU for certificate of public convenience and necessity prior to undertaking transmission project.

Prohibits electric and gas public utility residential rate increases during certain times of year; requires advance notice of certain rate increases.

Directs EDA to establish New Jersey Energy Independence Bank.

Establishes "Virtual Currency Kiosk Consumer Protection Act."

Requires BPU members to have certain experience and complete certain training.

Increases FY 2025 Grants-in-Aid appropriation to DCA for "NJSHARES - S.M.A.R.T. Program" by $5 million.

Provides sales and use tax exemption for sales of fuel cell devices and systems and certain tangible personal property powered by fuel cells.

"Public Utility Rate Stabilization Act"; permits gas and electric public utilities to employ alternative ratemaking mechanisms.

Supplements FY2026 Appropriations Act; makes $10 million off-budget appropriation to NJSHARES - S.M.A.R.T. Program.

Requires cable television companies to provide cable television service and broadband Internet speed to all committed service areas before cable television companies allow paid prioritization of Internet network traffic.

Establishes Digital Divide Solutions Grant Program in DOE to assist public schools in purchase of connected devices and Internet access for students during periods of remote instruction.

Concerns development of safe indoor storage standards for certain energy storage system batteries.

Requires CATV companies to provide free broadband Internet service and associated equipment to public libraries and, under certain circumstances, other municipal buildings.

Requires study of ocean energy potential; directs BPU to establish wave and tidal energy generation goals and take other action to establish NJ as nationwide leader in ocean energy.

Requires BPU to designate solar portion of critical renewable microgrid as solar energy project under Community Solar Energy Program; requires Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness to designate certain microgrids as assets of importance.

Requires electric public utility to charge residential rate for service used by residential customer for electric vehicle charging at charging stations within certain designated parking spaces.

Authorizes EDA to use moneys in "Global Warming Solutions Fund" to support projects to refurbish or upgrade existing electricity generation facilities.

Concerns electrical linemen and associated building trades during weather-related states of emergency.

Establishes Division of Energy Resource and Development; transfers certain responsibilities from BPU to the Division of Energy Resource and Development.

"Energy Cost Reduction Act"; exempts purchases of natural gas and electricity for residential customers from sales and use tax.

Requires electric public utilities to disseminate through social media and text message certain information during power outages.

Requires public utilities to provide certain information on customer bills.

Directs BPU to establish incentive program for geothermal energy systems and grant program to support government energy aggregation program; increases annual target for new community solar projects.

Requires public utility to charge nonprofit organization residential rate.

Establishes limits for electric public utility rate increases for low- and middle-income households.

Concerns procedures with respect to repair of certain public utility facilities and related street repaving.

Directs BPU to establish two-year innovative drinking water supply and wastewater infrastructure grant program.

Prohibits BPU from retiring electric generation facilities in certain circumstances.

Establishes Department of Energy.

Establishes Rural Broadband Infrastructure Grant Program in EDA; appropriates $2.5 million in federal funds.

Requires electric public utilities to establish interest-free revolving loan program to help residential customers purchase standby emergency power generators.

Directs BPU to establish program concerning renewable natural gas; provides gas public utilities with customer rate recovery mechanism for costs associated with program.

Establishes limits on zoning restrictions for certain electric battery storage equipment installation.

Directs NJ Infrastructure Bank to establish financing program for electric school buses; allocates $20 million annually in societal benefits charge revenues to NJ Infrastructure Bank for purposes of program.

Revises State renewable energy portfolio standards.

Removes requirement that local units may only provide broadband telecommunication service via wireless community service network.

Directs BPU to adopt rules and regulations concerning small modular nuclear reactors; authorizes EDA to incentivize construction and operation of such reactors.

Removes project capacity limit for community solar energy projects.

Requires electric public utilities to develop and implement grid modernization plans.

"Energy Cost Fairness Act"; prohibits BPU from authorizing rate increases for electric and gas public utilities that charge inclining block rates for residential customers.

"Cost Savings on Energy Saving Purchases Act"; exempts sales of energy-saving products and services from sales and use tax.

Provides CBT and gross income tax credits for certain energy infrastructure upgrades.

Requires reports prepared by outside consultants for BPU to display certain information.

Concerns certain streaming services and public broadcasting funding.

Establishes Office of Energy Generation Ombudsman in Department of Treasury; requires State agencies to prioritize permit review and approval process for projects that result in increased electricity production.

Authorizes development to enhance energy production through solar panel orientation.

Requires data center owners and operators to submit semi-annual water and energy usage reports to BPU.

Clarifies that application to collocate wireless communications equipment be reviewed by administrative officer.

Adds fusion to types of Class I renewable energies as defined for purposes of "Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act."

Modifies definition of Class I renewable energy to include nuclear fission; provides CBT tax credit for production of clean baseload power.

Requires BPU to conduct inventory of lead-covered cables and develop plan for removal.

Establishes natural gas power plant procurement program in BPU.

Requires BPU to publish plain language summary of its final decision on rate increase filings.

Requires electric public utilities to report certain information concerning power outages on their Internet website and to BPU.

Prohibits electric public utility residential rate increases during summer and gas public utility residential rate increases during winter.

Requires electric public utilities to provide industrial portable power stations accessible to customers during certain power outages.

Requires public utilities to provide Energy Star-rated product and appliance rebates at time of sale.

Requires BPU to pay for certain compliance costs of State energy policies.

Requires electric public utilities to obtain written consent and provide written disclosure prior to installing smart meters.

Re-locates certain energy incentive and all utility assistance programs to new Office of Energy Management; establishes common application platform for utility assistance programs.

"Affordable Home Energy Protection Act"; prohibits adoption of State or local rules that restrict the use of certain fossil-fuel powered appliances or heating systems.

Requires BPU to allow certain bidding practices during basic generation service auctions.

Requires public utilities to provide Energy Star-rated product and appliance rebates of no less than 20 percent of total cost of product or appliance.

Repeals certain energy reduction and reporting requirements for electric and natural gas usage.

Requires owner or operator of data center to submit water and energy usage report to BPU.

Prohibits electric and gas public utilities from collecting payment from residential budget billing plan customers whose service was interrupted as a result of major emergency event.

Prohibits BPU approval of electric or gas public utility rate increases resulting in total increase to average residential customer bill in excess of two percent within five-year period.

Requires BPU to post on its website report from public utility on public utility's capital investments in response to petition from public utility to increase rates.

Requires State to bear costs of interconnection of net-metered, residential, Class I renewable energy systems.

Establishes Office of the State Chief Efficiency Officer and Efficiency Officer positions in each State Executive Branch department.

Establishes thermal energy network pilot program for gas public utilities.

Requires public utilities to send certain information concerning rate increases to customers.

Requires electric public utilities to develop vegetation management plan.

Requires BPU to establish best practices and to assess electric public utilities' compliance with BPU best practices during BPU's review of rate increase.

Requires BPU to discontinue Infrastructure Investment Program.

Prohibits public utilities from being eligible for rate treatment or other incentive or rate mechanisms that provide additional revenue to utilities in certain circumstances.

Requires electric public utilities to pre-place repair equipment in areas with frequent power outages.

Requires electric public utilities to submit transmission project proposal to BPU for approval.

Prohibits electric public utilities from imposing reconciliation charge on customers.

Requires public utilities and cable television companies to accommodate and relocate facilities when necessary for transportation infrastructure projects at direction of DOT.

Requires electric public utilities to develop service restoration plans for certain communities on well water or septic systems.

Requires electric public utilities to conduct wellness checks in age-restricted communities during power outages.

Requires BPU to impose penalties during audits.

Prohibits BPU from hiring certain third-party consultants; requires certain third-party consultants of BPU to disclose list of certain clients.

Imposes 10 percent electric public utility windfall surtax on taxpayers with allocated taxable net income in excess of $10 million under CBT.

Requires electric public utility to reimburse customers for up to $500 for spoiled food and full cost of spoiled medicine resulting from lengthy service outage following major event.

Requires BPU to prohibit electric and gas public utilities from charging residential customers certain types of payments based on certain billing practices.

Resets electric and gas public utility rates to 2020 levels for five-year period.

Provides for allocation of $300 million from available balances collected from societal benefits charge and Global Warming Solutions Fund revenues for grants for construction of small modular nuclear reactors.

Establishes certain protections against demand by large-load addition customers in State.

Urges President and Congress of United States to restore "net neutrality" in federal law.

Requires public utilities de-privatization study; appropriates $100,000.

Prohibits electric, gas, or water public utility service discontinuances to residential customers during certain epidemics.

Requires certain State agencies to establish expedited approval and permitting procedures for artificial intelligence data centers powered by small modular nuclear reactors.

Permits small businesses to qualify for loans from EDA for costs of energy audit and making energy efficiency or conservation improvements.

Urges Governor to declare energy generation emergency in New Jersey.

Urges US Congress and President to increase domestic energy production and lessen regulatory barriers thereto.

Recognizes role of natural gas in New Jersey's energy policy goals and declares natural gas clean fuel.

Recognizes importance of nuclear energy in NJ.

Requires telecommunications companies to provide prorated refunds for service outages of longer than 72 hours.

Requires text messages soliciting home owners to provide notice when individuals sending solicitations are not licensed by New Jersey Real Estate Commission.

Prohibits certain caller identification service manipulation and provides additional penalty.

Prohibits telecommunications, utility or cable television companies from charging certain customers prior to actual billing due date.

Revises penalty provision of law concerning prohibition of certain unsolicited text messages.

Establishes "Virtual Currency Kiosk Consumer Protection Act."

Requires boil water notices to be provided by certain public water systems via telephone, email or text message.

Prohibits casino and sports wagering licensees from utilizing push notifications or text messages for promotional purposes.

Provides consumer protections under certain telecommunications service provider contracts.

Requires hotels to establish telecommunications system that connects callers directly to NJ Human Trafficking Hotline; requires hotel employees to report human trafficking alerts to law enforcement.

Supports President Trump declaring national energy emergency and executive order expediting energy projects.

Expresses no confidence in BPU.

Urges Congress and U.S. President to enact "Securing Local Communities Input in Broadband Development Act."

Requires telecommunications companies to provide prorated refunds for service outages of longer than 24 hours.

Expands EDA small business loan program to include certain broadband telecommunications service providers.

Prohibits certain caller identification service manipulation; makes violation fourth degree crime.

Creates "New Jersey Kratom Consumer Protection Act."

Concerns credit card interchange fees and consumer protection.

Enacts the "Reader Privacy Act."

Requires telemarketers making sales calls to display name and telephone number on any caller identification service.

Establishes task force to study technology and other methods used to reduce or eliminate telemarketing harassment and intimidation.