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

A4516

ASSEMBLY, No. 4516

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MARCH 9, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman� ALEX SAUICKIE

District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)

SYNOPSIS

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

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act

concerning electric public utilities and power
outages and supplementing Title 48 of the Revised Statutes.

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

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

���� �Board� means the Board of
Public Utilities or any successor agency.

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

���� �High-risk event� means an
event that is likely to cause a power outage and includes, but is not limited
to, excessive heat waves, severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, high winds, tropical
cyclones, and winter storms such as a blizzard.

���� b.��� In service areas with
frequent power outages due to high-risk events, an electric public utility
operating within the State of New Jersey shall pre-place any equipment that is
commonly required to remedy a power outage and restore electric service to the
service area within 12 to 24 hours before a high-risk event.

���� (1)�� A utility shall ensure
that the pre-placed repair equipment is regularly maintained, technologically
updated, and otherwise functionally reliable to assist with power restoration
in a timely manner.

���� (2)�� In consultation with the
board, a utility shall determine which service areas within its jurisdiction
require the pre-placement of repair equipment.

���� c.���� The board shall adopt
and promulgate, pursuant to the �Administrative Procedure Act,� P.L.1968, c.410
(C.52:14B-1 et seq.), rules and regulations as may be necessary for the
implementation of this act, including but not limited to the establishment of
guidelines to inform electric public utilities of:�

���� (1)�� the kinds of repair
equipment that should be pre-placed in areas with frequent power outages; and

���� (2)�� best practices in terms
of the logistics and procedure for pre-placing repair equipment prior to
high-risk events.

���� 2.��� This act shall take
effect immediately.

STATEMENT

���� This bill requires electric
public utilities (utilities) operating within the State to pre-place any
equipment that is commonly required to remedy a power outage and restore
electric service in services areas with frequent power outages due to high-risk
events within 12 to 24 hours before a high-risk event.� A utility is to consult
with the Board of Public Utilities (board) to determine which service areas
within its jurisdiction require the pre-placement of repair equipment.� The
bill also requires utilities to ensure that the pre-placed repair equipment is
regularly maintained, technologically updated, and otherwise functionally
reliable to assist with power restoration in a timely manner.

���� Under the bill, the board is
required to issue rules and regulations to establish guidelines to inform
utilities of: �(1) the kinds of repair equipment that should be pre-placed in
areas with frequent power outages; and (2) best practices in terms of the
logistics and procedure for pre-placing repair equipment prior to high-risk
events.

���� The bill defines �high-risk
event� to mean an event that is likely to cause a power outage and includes,
but is not limited to, excessive heat waves, severe thunderstorms, tornadoes,
high winds, tropical cyclones, and winter storms such as a blizzard.