DePhillips turns-up heat on utilities; proposes legislation allowing towns
to rescind franchises for unsafe and inadequate service

TRENTON, N.J. – Assemblyman Christopher DePhillips is turning up the heat on the state’s utility companies after repeated and prolonged outages earlier this month left hundreds of thousands of residents without power following three nor’easters.

DePhillips introduced legislation (A3736) Monday revising and updating the public utility franchise process. It allows towns to revoke a utility’s franchise for poor service, limits franchise contracts to seven years, and increases penalties for violating BPU rules and regulations.

“Local mayors are furious with Orange and Rockland’s repeated failures to provide adequate service during storm preparedness and response,” said DePhillips (R-Bergen).

DePhillips cited reports that crews were “sitting in trucks watching down lines” after one of the storms.
Just as it did with Sandy and other prior storms, Orange and Rockland failed to get emergency crews online during the March 7 storm,” said DePhillips. “It’s unacceptable.”

DePhillips’ bill requires utilities to continuously afford safe, adequate and proper service. Failure to do so allows a town to switch to another provider.

It also enhances BPU’s role in reviewing and approving franchises and increases penalties for violations from $100 up to $25,000 per day.

“This is a service issue, as well as a public safety issue,” said DePhillips. “Young children and senior citizens should never have to go days or a week or more without power or heat. The utilities should have learned their lessons from prior storms.

“The March 7th storm was the straw that broke the camel’s back,” concluded DePhillips. “It is time for the Legislature and BPU to act.”

The board issued two sets of procedures on how utility companies need to respond to weather emergencies after customers were left without power for weeks after Hurricanes Irene and Sandy.

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