Requires BPU to consider affordability to ratepayers before approving base rate cases for electric public utilities.

S 3845 requires New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to explicitly consider whether proposed electric utility rate increases are affordable for customers before approving them. The bill directly affects residential and business electricity ratepayers by mandating the BPU factor affordability into its review of all base rate cases for electric utilities. Key provisions amend existing law to require the BPU to evaluate affordability alongside traditional factors like utility costs and profits when determining if a rate hike is "just and reasonable." This change applies immediately to all rate increase petitions submitted to the BPU after the bill's enactment.