Bill Text: NJ S3417 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Provides certain circumstances under which residential customers may switch electric power suppliers and gas suppliers.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-07-04 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Economic Growth Committee [S3417 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-S3417-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator LINDA R. GREENSTEIN
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
Provides certain circumstances under which residential customers may switch electric power suppliers and gas suppliers.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning residential customer contracts with electric power suppliers and gas suppliers, and amending Title 48 of the revised statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 1 of P.L.2015, c.291 (C.48:3-98.5) is amended to read as follows:
1. a. (1) A customer shall be permitted to switch between an electric power supplier and a basic generation service provider or between electric power suppliers, provided the electric public utility receives an electronic enrollment notice from the electric power supplier no later than 20 days prior to the next scheduled meter reading date for the switch to be effective on that date. A switch between an electric power supplier and a basic generation service provider, or between electric power suppliers, shall become effective on the customer's scheduled meter reading date, which shall occur at least monthly for the purpose of enabling customers to switch suppliers. The board may establish a shorter timeframe for switching between an electric power supplier and a basic generation service provider, or between electric power suppliers.
(2) A residential customer who consents to switching between an electric power supplier and a basic generation service provider or between electric power suppliers pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection, shall do so by providing a valid government-issued or alternate form of identification, both of which shall include a photograph, to an electric power supplier if the residential customer consents to the switch at a location other than the residential customer's residence. The electric power supplier shall attest to the electric public utility that a valid government-issued or alternate form of identification was provided along with the residential customer's service address. A residential customer shall not be required to provide an electric public utility account number or point of delivery identification number where a valid government-issued or alternate form of identification was provided, so long as the switch is agreed to by the residential customer while at a location other than the residential customer's residence. A residential customer shall not switch between an electric power supplier and a basic generation service provider or between electric power suppliers without providing a written or electronic signature authorizing the switch. An electric power supplier that is marketing via door-to-door marketing, telemarketing, electronic mail, or on an online website, shall not allow a residential customer to switch between an electric power supplier and a basic generation service provider or between electric power suppliers until the residential customer provides a written or electronic signature authorizing the switch and a valid government-issued or alternate form of identification, both of which shall include a photograph.
b. (1) A customer shall be permitted to switch between a gas supplier and gas public utility or between gas suppliers, provided the gas public utility receives an electronic enrollment notice from a gas supplier on or before the first business day of the month for a switch to be effective on the following month's scheduled meter reading date. A switch between a gas supplier and gas public utility, or between gas suppliers, shall become effective on the customer's scheduled meter reading date, which shall occur at least monthly for the purpose of enabling customers to switch suppliers. The board may establish a shorter timeframe for switching between a gas supplier and a gas public utility, or between gas suppliers.
(2) A residential customer who consents to switching between a gas supplier and a gas public utility or between gas suppliers pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection, shall do so by providing a valid government-issued or alternate form of identification, both of which shall include a photograph, to a gas supplier if the residential customer consents to the switch while at a location other than the residential customer's residence. The gas supplier shall attest to the gas public utility that a valid government-issued or alternate form of identification was provided along with the residential customer's service address. A residential customer shall not be required to provide a gas public utility account number or point of delivery identification number where a valid government-issued or alternate form of identification was provided so long as the switch is agreed to by the residential customer while at a location other than the residential customer's residence. A residential customer shall not switch between a gas supplier and a gas public utility or between gas suppliers without providing a written or electronic signature authorizing the switch. A gas supplier that is marketing via door-to-door marketing, telemarketing, electronic mail, or on an online website, shall not allow a residential customer to switch between a gas supplier and a gas public utility or between gas suppliers until the residential customer provides a written or electronic signature authorizing the switch and a valid government-issued or alternate form of identification, both of which shall include a photograph.
c. Nothing in this section shall preclude an electric power supplier, basic generation service provider, or gas supplier from utilizing any methods allowing a customer to switch electric power suppliers or gas suppliers pursuant to law.
(cf: P.L.2015, c.291, s.1)
2. This act shall take effect on the 60th day after the date of enactment and shall apply to contracts formed or renewed on or after the effective date of this act.
STATEMENT
This bill provides that a residential customer who consents to switching between an electric power supplier and a basic generation service provider or between electric power suppliers, or a residential customer who switches between a gas supplier and a gas public utility or between gas suppliers, is to do so by providing a valid government-issued or alternate form of identification, both of which are to include a photograph, to an electric power supplier or gas supplier if the residential customer consents to the switch while at a location other than the residential customer's residence. The electric power supplier and gas supplier are to attest to the appropriate public utility that a valid government-issued or alternate form of identification was provided along with the residential customer's service address. A residential customer is not required to provide an electric or gas public utility account number or point of delivery identification number where a valid government-issued or alternate form of identification was provided, so long as the residential customer agrees to the switch while at a location other than the residential customer's residence. The bill prohibits a residential customer from switching between these suppliers, providers, and utilities without providing a written or electronic signature authorizing the switch. An electric power supplier or gas supplier that is marketing via door-to-door marketing, telemarketing, electronic mail, or on an online website, is prohibited from switching a residential customer between these suppliers, providers, and utilities until the residential customer provides a written or electronic signature authorizing the switch and a valid government-issued or alternate form of identification, both of which are to include a photograph.
The bill does not prohibit an electric power supplier, basic generation service provider, or gas supplier from utilizing any methods allowing a customer to switch electric power suppliers or gas suppliers pursuant to law.
