BPU outlines storm response rules to NJ Assembly
NJ utility regulators outline storm response regulations before Assembly panel
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- Utility regulators on Thursday outlined new recommendations aimed at improving response times to power outages in the state.
The new rules include requiring electric companies to provide customers with time frames for power restoration 24 hours after major outages, such as those that occurred after Superstorm Sandy. And within 48 hours, utilities will have to start giving emergency management officials daily updates on how many outages their towns have and how many customers can expect service restored that day.
Officials from the Board of Public Utilities, the agency entrusted with overseeing providers of services such as natural gas, electricity, water and telecommunications, testified before an Assembly panel Thursday about the 103 measures that were drawn up in response to customer complaints after Tropical Storm Irene in 2011 and Superstorm Sandy last year.
Sandy, which struck in late October, knocked power out to nearly 3 million customers in New Jersey for up to 13 days. The storm killed people in 10 states but hit New York and New Jersey the hardest. It's Jersey's worst natural disaster.
The board is still finalizing the new rules with state utility companies. It aims to implement most of the measures by the start of hurricane season on June 1.
PSE&G, among the largest combined electric and gas companies in the United States, and Jersey Central Power & Light said they are cooperating with the board's recommendations. Since Sandy, the companies have developed better ways to keep customers updated about their service using social media sites, text messages and emails.
Still, legislators said more should be done to improve communication with customers. Assemblywoman Donna Simon wanted to know: How are people supposed to communicate when their electricity is out?
PSEG, Jersey's largest utility, has estimated the cost of restoring power after Sandy and a subsequent Nor'easter at between $250 million and $300 million. It said 1.7 million of its electric customers were without power during the storm, the most in its history.
Jersey Central Power & Light, the state's second-largest utility, has said Sandy knocked out power to about 1.2 million of its customers.
