Bill Text: NJ SR110 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges BPU to adopt goal to equip 500,000 homes with energy-saving smart thermostats by 2023.
Sponsorship: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2017-05-25 - Filed with Secretary of State [SR110 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-SR110-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator BOB SMITH
District 17 (Middlesex and Somerset)
Senator LINDA R. GREENSTEIN
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senator Bateman
SYNOPSIS
Urges BPU to adopt goal to equip 500,000 homes with energy-saving smart thermostats by 2023.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Senate Resolution urging the Board of Public Utilities to adopt a goal of 500,000 homes equipped with energy-saving smart thermostats by 2023.
Whereas, In recent years, significant advances have been made in thermostat technology, making affordable, energy-saving smart thermostats widely available to consumers; and
Whereas, Currently, there are many different smart thermostats on the market, most of which can be programmed by the owner to automatically adjust the temperature or turn on or off the heating and cooling system at scheduled times, and in some cases, to be remotely controlled by the owner using a mobile phone from any location; and
Whereas, As smart thermostats enhance the ability of owners to control energy usage, these devices can cut heating and cooling energy costs and usage by up to 20 percent, according to the Cadmus Group, an environmental consulting firm; and
Whereas, According to the United States Energy Information Administration, in 2015, New Jersey had, on average, the 10th-highest electricity prices in the nation; and
Whereas, Part of the Board of Public Utilities' (BPU) mission, as declared on its Internet website, is to "develop and regulate a competitive, economically cost effective energy policy that promotes responsible growth and clean renewable energy sources while maintaining a high quality of life in New Jersey"; and
Whereas, In order to effect this mission, the BPU has adopted several policies to encourage cost savings and reduced energy consumption by residents of New Jersey; and
Whereas, In the December 2015 update to the New Jersey Energy Master Plan, the BPU, along with the Department of Environmental Protection, outlined certain energy-related goals which include reducing the cost of energy for all customers and rewarding energy efficiency; and
Whereas, The New Jersey Clean Energy Program, administered by the BPU, offers numerous incentives aimed at reducing a home's energy costs and carbon footprint; and
Whereas, Considering the many benefits of smart thermostats, both economic and environmental, promoting the use of such devices would be beneficial to the residents of New Jersey and well within the mission and objectives of the BPU; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Senate respectfully
urges the Board of Public Utilities to include in the next update to the New
Jersey Energy Master Plan a goal of having 500,000 homes equipped with
energy-saving smart thermostats by 2023.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the Governor of the State of New Jersey and the President and each Commissioner of the Board of Public Utilities.
STATEMENT
This resolution urges the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to include in the next update to the New Jersey Energy Master Plan a goal of having 500,000 homes equipped with energy-saving smart thermostats by 2023.
Smart thermostats are designed to be programmed by the owner to automatically adjust the temperature or turn on or off the heating and cooling system at scheduled times, and in some cases, to be remotely controlled by the owner using a mobile phone from any location. With these programming capabilities, smart thermostats enhance the ability of owners to control their energy usage, and have the potential to cut heating and cooling energy costs and usage by up to 20 percent. The United States Energy Information Administration found that New Jersey had, on average, the 10th-highest electricity prices in the nation in 2015. Therefore, residents of the State would benefit greatly from the reduction in energy usage and cost that smart thermostats can provide.
Considering the many benefits of smart thermostats, both economic and environmental, promoting the use of such devices would be beneficial to the residents of New Jersey and well within the mission and objectives of the BPU.
