N.J. Stat. § 48:9-21
Every gas company organized under the laws of this State shall lay its main or distributing gas pipes at the greatest practicable distance from any pipe of any other company and at a horizontal distance of 1 foot at least from the nearest part of any such pipe, unless it shall be unavoidably necessary to lay the gas pipe across or nearer to any other pipe, in which case the gas pipe shall be laid at the greatest practicable distance therefrom, and shall form therewith a right angle, or as near thereto as the situation will admit.
In no case shall any pipe be laid or apparatus used that will interfere in any way either with the present or future supply pipes of any company, or that may interfere with or increase the expense of replacing, removing or repairing the supply pipes or apparatus of any company.
All gas companies which were in operation on April 21, 1876, shall have the same rights and privileges of laying their mains and pipes, and making and supplying gas, that their respective charters and contracts then gave them.
N.J.S. § 48:9-21