STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 3029

with Senate Floor Amendments

(Proposed by Senator VITALE)

ADOPTED: JUNE 10, 2019

      These floor amendments:

      1)   make changes to the definition of “emergency” and “medical customer”;

      2)   provide that the discontinuance of electric service to a medical customer for nonpayment is prohibited for a period of 90 days;

      3)   provide that the Board of Public Utilities (board) may extend the 90-day period of time in which a discontinuance of electric service is prohibited for an additional period of time for good cause;

      4)   provide that a licensed medical professional is to submit the statement to an electric public utility (utility) on behalf of a medical customer and that the board is to determine which types of licensed medical professionals are able to sign a medical certification needed to avoid the discontinuance of electric service;

      5)   provide that the board is to direct each utility to develop a customer outreach plan, subject to BPU approval, that is to inform customers of the process for qualifying as a medical customer;

      6)   provide that a utility is excused from compliance with the prohibition on discontinuing service to a medical customer in the event of an emergency or if the medical customer fails or refuses to respond to a request for information by the utility; and

      7)   require the board to adopt rules and regulations implementing the provisions of the bill.