N.J. Admin. Code § 14:3-3A.9

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 24, December 18, 2024

Section 14:3-3A.9 - Basis for restoration

(a) Service shall be restored within 12 hours upon proper application when:

1. All of the conditions under which such service was discontinued are corrected; and

2. Payment of all charges due is received at the utility, or at an authorized payment center and the utility has received notice of the payment.

(b) Any other provision of this subchapter notwithstanding, the utility shall restore service within 12 hours if there is a complaint involving such matters pending before the Board, and Board staff so directs the utility.

(c) If a utility discontinues service to a customer for nonpayment, and the customer has met all requirements in this section for restoration of service, the utility may require a deposit, but shall not require the deposit prior to service restoration. Instead, the utility shall bill the customer for the deposit, and shall allow the customer at least 15 days after the billing for payment of the deposit, or shall make other reasonable payment arrangements with the customer.

(d) The amount of a deposit required for restoration of service shall be determined in accordance with N.J.A.C. 14:3-4.

(e) For non-Winter Termination Program customers and Winter Termination Program customers outside the Winter Termination Program period of November 15 through March 15, a residential electric, gas, water, or wastewater customer who has been disconnected shall have their service reconnected, upon request, if the following conditions are met:

1. They can demonstrate that they have applied to one of the following assistance programs that may exist at the time: Universal Service Fund, Low Income Home Energy Assistance, Payment Assistance for Gas and Electric, the Low-Income Household Water Assistance program(s), or any other State, local, or utility program that provides assistance or discounted rates specifically to help eligible customers pay their utility bills; and

2. They have made a down payment of up to 25 percent of the outstanding balance, except that the utility shall accept a lesser amount from those customers who prove they do not have the ability to pay.

(f) Reconnection of service pursuant to (e) above is limited to once per calendar year per utility service.

N.J. Admin. Code § 14:3-3A.9

Amended by R.1997 d.39, effective 2/3/1997.
See: 28 N.J.R. 1810(a), 29 N.J.R. 449(a).
Inserted 24 hour deadline for service.
Amended by R.2002 d.280, effective 9/16/2002.
See: 34 N.J.R. 992(a), 34 N.J.R. 3216(b).
Rewrote the section.
Recodified from N.J.A.C. 14:3-3.7 and amended by R.2008 d.119, effective 5/19/2008.
See: 39 N.J.R. 4077(b), 40 N.J.R. 2481(a).
Inserted designations (a), (a)1, (a)2 and (b); in the introductory paragraph of (a), inserted a semicolon at the end; in (a)1, inserted "All of" and substituted "; and" for ", and upon the payment"; rewrote (a)2 and (b); and added (c) and (d).

Amended by 56 N.J.R. 1026(a), effective 6/3/2024