New Jersey A5431: Electric utilities, consumer-regulated-concerns

What the bill says

An Act concerning consumer-regulated electric utilities, supplementing Title 48 of the Revised Statutes, and amending R.S.48:2-13. and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey: 1. (New section) The Legislature finds and declares that: a. A reliable, affordable, and sufficient electricity supply is vital to economic growth and public welfare in the State. b. New industrial, commercial, and data-center developments require rapid access to electricity. c. Alternative electricity providers, such as consumer-regulated electric utilities, offer a path toward energy innovation and enhanced reliabi.

From the introduced text, September 10, 2026:

An Act concerning consumer-regulated electric utilities, supplementing Title 48 of the Revised Statutes, and amending R.S.48:2-13. and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey: 1. (New section) The Legislature finds and declares that: a. A reliable, affordable, and sufficient electricity supply is vital to economic growth and public welfare in the State. b. New industrial, commercial, and data-center developments require rapid access to electricity. c. Alternative electricity providers, such as consumer-regulated electric utilities, offer a path toward energy innovation and enhanced reliability, while supporting these high-demand users. d. Authorizing alternative electricity providers, including off-grid generation and microgrids, to generate and sell electricity will introduce market competition and, therefore, reduce the strain on the grid and lower costs passed through to ratepayers. e. Permitting consumer-regulated electric utilities will further relieve the growing demand currently impacting traditionally-regulated utilities, drive innovation, and create incentives for increasing energy reliability across the State. 2. (New section) As used in P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill): “Board” means the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities or a successor agency. “Consumer-regulated electric utility” means an individual, copartnership, association, corporation, or joint stock company that: exclusively provides electric utility service to new industrial, commercial, and other nonresidential loads within the State; and owns, operates, manages, or controls electric generation, distribution, or …