New Jersey Assembly Bill A4721

New Jersey 2026-2027 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/16/26
• Refer: 3/16/26

Caption

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

Summary

Assembly Bill 4721 would bar electric, gas, and water public utilities from disconnecting residential customers for nonpayment during an “epidemic,” as defined in the bill. The prohibition applies only while the Governor has declared both a public health emergency and a state of emergency in response to the epidemic, and it does not apply if the utility is facing a separate “public utility emergency” that requires interruption or discontinuance of service. The bill also requires utilities to restore service as soon as practicable during the epidemic to certain residential customers whose service had already been disconnected before the epidemic began, so long as they are at the same residence. The bill further provides that unpaid balances are not forgiven. A residential customer who does not pay a bill during the epidemic remains liable for the amount owed once the Governor determines the epidemic no longer exists. The measure defines key terms such as “epidemic,” “public health emergency,” “public utility,” “public utility emergency,” “residential customer,” and “state of emergency,” and it takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Impact

This bill would temporarily override contrary laws, rules, regulations, or orders to prevent utility shutoffs for residential nonpayment during a qualifying epidemic. It would affect electric, gas, and water public utilities regulated under Title 48 and would create a statewide moratorium on residential service discontinuances during declared epidemic-related emergencies, while preserving utility authority to act during actual utility emergencies. It also imposes a service-restoration obligation for certain previously disconnected residential accounts and preserves the utility’s right to collect deferred balances after the emergency ends.

Sentiment

The bill appears generally protective of residential customers and consistent with emergency public-health policy, especially in light of the COVID-19 experience referenced in the statement. Its structure suggests support for keeping essential utility service on during a crisis while balancing utility financial interests by preserving the underlying debt. Because no committee transcripts or votes are provided, there is no recorded legislative debate or roll-call evidence here showing opposition or support beyond the bill’s stated purpose.

Contention

The main policy tension is between protecting households from losing essential electric, gas, or water service during a public health emergency and preserving utilities’ ability to collect unpaid bills and manage operational risks. Utilities may be concerned about revenue loss, administrative burdens, and the limits of the exception for a “public utility emergency,” while consumer advocates would likely favor the shutoff ban and restoration requirement. Another possible point of contention is the bill’s reliance on gubernatorial declarations to trigger and end the protections, which ties the scope of the moratorium to emergency executive action.