Section 48:3-54 - Offering of customer account services on regulated basisa. An electric public utility may continue to offer customer account services on a regulated basis subsequent to the effective date of this act. Not later than three months after the starting date for the implementation of retail choice for any public utility as determined by the board pursuant to subsection a. of section 5 of this act, the board shall initiate a formal proceeding to investigate the manner and mechanics by which customers are afforded the opportunity to contract with the incumbent utility or an electric power supplier for customer account services and to establish the necessary standards for safety, reliability and testing for meters and information exchange protocols applicable to both electric power suppliers and incumbent utilities that will permit customers to choose a supplier for some or all such customer account services. The board shall issue an order for providing customers the opportunity to choose a supplier for some or all customer account services not later than one year from the starting date of retail competition as provided for in subsection a. of section 5 of this act and setting forth the manner, mechanics and standards for competitive customer account services. The board shall require that electric public utilities, in the continued regulated provision of customer account services, not take actions that would unreasonably impede a transition to a competitive customer account service market. Notwithstanding any other provision of this act to the contrary, an electric power supplier may, upon written consent from a customer, bill the customer directly for generation services and other services it provides to the customer as of the starting date for implementation of retail choice. The board shall ensure that the standards and protocols for electronic data exchange needed to support this option are adopted and are implemented by electric public utilities in a timely manner.b. A gas public utility may continue to offer customer account services on a regulated basis subsequent to the effective date of this act. Not later than three months after the starting date for the implementation of retail choice established pursuant to section 10 of this act, the board shall initiate a formal proceeding to investigate the manner and mechanics by which customers are afforded the opportunity to contract with by the incumbent utility or gas supplier and to establish the necessary standards for safety, reliability and testing for meters and information exchange protocols applicable to both gas suppliers and incumbent utilities that will permit customers to choose a supplier for some or all such customer account services. The board shall issue an order for providing customers the opportunity to choose a supplier for some or all customer account services not later than December 31, 2000 and setting forth the manner, mechanics and standards for competitive customer account services. The board shall require that gas public utilities, in the continued regulated provision of customer account services, not take actions which would unreasonably impede a transition to a competitive customer account service market. Notwithstanding any other provision of this act to the contrary, a gas supplier may, upon written consent from a customer, bill the customer directly for gas supply service and other services it provides to the customer on and after the first billing which comports with the provisions of section 10 of this act pertaining to the provision of basic gas supply service. The board shall ensure that the standards and protocols for electronic data exchange needed to support this option are adopted and are implemented by gas public utilities in a timely manner.c. Notwithstanding any provisions of the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L. 1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) to the contrary, the board shall initiate a proceeding and shall adopt, after notice, provision of the opportunity for comment, and public hearing, interim technical standards to ensure the safety, reliability and accuracy of metering equipment provided to electric or gas customers and to establish protocols for the exchange of information related to the provision of customer account services.