Exempts municipal electric utilities from regulation by BPU in certain circumstances.*
S 877 exempts municipal electric utilities from oversight by New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) regarding their rates and operations. Currently, if a municipality provides electricity beyond its city limits, it is treated as a public utility subject to BPU rate regulation; this bill removes that requirement. Municipal electric utilities would no longer need BPU approval for rates, charges, or operations, though the BPU would retain authority to resolve disputes over service territories. This directly affects cities operating electric utilities that serve customers outside their corporate boundaries. The bill amends existing laws (R.S.40:62-24 and P.L.1983, c.78) to create this exemption.
Bill status
passed both
4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2024
Committee Review
Dec 2025
Senate Passage
Dec 2025
General Assembly Passage
Jan 2026
Governor
Introduced Jan 9, 2024
Last action Jan 12, 2026
Floor votes · Senate Dec 18, 2025
How they voted
38–0
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 40
Dec 18, 2025
D
Democratic25
96% Yea
R
Republican15
93% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
6
Key actions
3
Committee
1
Jan 12, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed Assembly (Passed Both Houses) (70-1-1)
lower
Dec 18, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate (38-0)
upper
Dec 11, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported out of Senate Committee with Amendments, 2nd Reading
upper
Jan 9, 2024
Introduced
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Economic Growth Committee
upper
5 primary · 3 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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