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

A4718

ASSEMBLY, No. 4718

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MARCH 16, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman� SHANIQUE SPEIGHT

District 29 (Essex and Hudson)

SYNOPSIS

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

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act
requiring a study on public utility de-privatization
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:�

���� �Board� means the Board of
Public Utilities.

���� �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.

���� �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.

���� �Public utility� means the
same as that term is defined in R.S.48:2-13.

���� �Third party� means an entity
without an ownership or financial relationship with either a public utility or
a public entity.

���� b.��� The board shall engage a
third party to conduct a study on the feasibility of and cost savings
associated with the de-privatization of public utilities in this State and
shall direct the third party to conduct such analysis as the board shall deem
appropriate for purposes of the study.� The third party engaged by the board
shall have the authority to request information and reasonable assistance from
any 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 public utilities, in part or in whole, by a public entity; and

���� (2)�� joint ownership or
operation of existing public utilities, in part or in whole, between a public
entity and existing 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 public utilities,
as well as potential organizational structures.� Public entities to be
considered shall include the board and any other appropriate public entity;

���� (3)�� an estimation of costs,
including, but not limited to, financial costs, as well as 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 board shall direct the third party to conduct.

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

���� e.���� Within one year after
the effective date of this act, the board 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 the feasibility of, need for, cost savings associated with, and plan for
the de-privatization of public utilities in this State.� The report shall
include recommendations for legislative, executive, and other actions.

���� 2.��� There is appropriated to
the Board of Public Utilities a sum of $100,000 from the General Fund for the
purpose of effectuating this act.

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

STATEMENT

���� This bill requires the Board
of Public Utilities (board) to engage a third party to conduct a feasibility
and cost savings study on the de-privatization of public utilities in this
State.� The third party is authorized to request information and reasonable
assistance from any public utility or public entity in order to conduct the
study, which is to examine the feasibility of and cost savings associated with
de-privatization options, including, but not limited to:� (1) acquisition or
operation of existing public utilities, in part or in whole, by a public
entity; and (2) joint ownership or operation of existing public utilities, in
part or in whole, between a public entity and existing public utilities.

���� The study is to include:� (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 public utilities, as well as potential
organizational structures; (3) an estimation of costs, including, but not
limited to, financial costs, as well as 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 board directs.

���� Any public utility or public entity
is required to promptly respond to, cooperate fully with, and provide any
requested information to the third party.

���� Within a year of the bill�s
effective date, the board is required to submit a report to the Governor and
the Legislature summarizing the findings from the study and providing
recommendations as to the feasibility of, need for, cost savings associated
with, and plan for the de-privatization of public utilities in this State.� The
report is to include recommendations for legislative, executive, and other
actions.

���� The bill appropriates $100,000
from the General Fund to the board to implement the provisions of the bill.

���� With this legislation, the
sponsor intends to encourage the State to explore opportunities to provide
utility services as a public good for utility customers across New Jersey.