AN ACT SEPARATING THE PUBLIC UTILITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.

This bill would move the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) out of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), making PURA an independent regulatory agency. It would separate PURA's core functions - overseeing utility rates, service standards, and infrastructure approvals - from DEEP's environmental and energy policy responsibilities. This structural change directly affects utility companies, ratepayers, and consumers who rely on regulated energy services. The bill amends statutes to establish PURA as a standalone entity with its own governance and authority.