A-1768

Sponsored by: Assemblymen WAYNE P. DEANGELO District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex), Assemblyman BENJIE E. WIMBERLY District 35 (Bergen and Passaic), Assemblyman JOE DANIELSEN District 17 (Middlesex and Somerset)
Co-Sponsored by: Assemblywomen Murphy, Timberlake, Assemblyman Benson, Assemblywoman Jasey, Assemblyman Mejia, Assemblywomen McKnight, Haider and Assemblyman Sauickie

STATEMENT

As amended and reported, this bill directs the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to require telecommunications companies and companies that offer Voice Over Internet Protocol or other Internet-based telephone services, to provide a bill adjustment or credit, on a prorated basis, to certain customers who experience a service interruption for more than 72 hours. Under the bill, these companies may not require the customer to take any action in order to receive the bill adjustment or credit.

In the case of companies that offer Voice Over Internet Protocol or other Internet-based telephone services, the provision of bill adjustments and credits would be limited to residential customers and would not be required when a customer’s service interruption occurred during an event that caused significant damage to the electric grid. The bill also permits the BPU to establish any other exceptions or limitations to the provision of bill adjustments and credits by these companies.