48:3-52. Electric public utilities, unbundled rate schedules
4. a. Simultaneously with the starting date for the implementation of retail choice as determined by the board pursuant to subsection a. of section 5 of this act, each electric public utility shall unbundle its rate schedules such that discrete services and charges provided, which were previously included in the bundled utility rate, are separately identified and charged in its tariffs. Such discrete services and charges shall include, at a minimum, customer account services and charges, distribution and transmission services and charges and generation services and charges, and the board may require that additional services and charges be unbundled and separately billed. Billings for such services also shall include charges related to regulatory assets and may include restructuring related costs. In the case of commercial and industrial customers, rate schedules shall remain unbundled, and in all billings for such customers after the starting date for the implementation of retail choice as determined by the board pursuant to subsection a. of section 5 of this act, the amount of the market transition charge authorized pursuant to section 13 of this act shall be added to the discrete services and charges identified. Residential rate schedules once unbundled, may be totally or partially rebundled for residential billing purposes. All competitive services offered by an electric public utility shall be charged separately from non-competitive services.
b. As part of its unbundled rate structure established in compliance with subsection a. of this section, an electric public utility providing basic generation service in accordance with section 9 of this act shall establish a separate charge for such service, as reviewed and approved by the board consistent with this act for billing purposes. An electric public utility which offers basic generation service in accordance with section 9 of this act shall also provide, simultaneously with the starting date for the implementation of retail choice as determined by the board pursuant to subsection a. of section 5 of this act, shopping credits applicable to the bills of their retail customers who choose to purchase electric generation service from a duly licensed electric power supplier. The board shall determine the appropriate level of shopping credits for each electric public utility in a manner consistent with the findings and declarations of the Legislature as set forth in section 2 of this act, and other provisions of this act. The reduction in electric public utility rates, as determined by the board in subsections d. and e. of this section, shall be consistent with the goals of this act, including the creation of shopping credits, as appropriate, pursuant to this subsection.
Each customer bill issued after the implementation of the rate reductions required or determined by the board pursuant to this section, including but not limited to any enhanced reductions resulting from a phase-in allowed pursuant to paragraph (2) of subsection d. of this section, shall indicate the dollar amount of the difference between what the customer's total charges would have been without the reduction and the total charges in that bill.
c. The board shall require electric public utilities to submit rate unbundling filings in a form adopted by the board. The board shall review such filings and, after hearing and an opportunity for public comment, render a determination as to the appropriate, unbundled rates consistent with the provisions of this act. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this act, an unbundling of electric public utility rates implemented as a result of this section shall not result in a reallocation of utility cost responsibility between or among different classes of customers.
d. (1) During a term to be fixed by the board, each electric public utility shall reduce its aggregate level of rates for each customer class, including any surcharges assessed pursuant to this act, by a percentage to be approved by the board, which shall be at least 10 percent relative to the aggregate level of bundled rates in effect as of April 30, 1997, subject to the provisions of paragraph (2) of this subsection.
(2) The board may set a term for an electric public utility to phase in a rate reduction of ten percent or more during the first 36 months after the starting date for the implementation of retail choice as provided in subsection a. of section 5 of this act; provided, however, that, on the starting date for the implementation of retail choice as provided in subsection a. of section 5 of this act, each electric public utility shall reduce its aggregate level of rates for each customer class, including any surcharges assessed pursuant to this act, by no less than five percent.
e. The board may order a rate reduction that exceeds the 10 percent rate reduction as provided in subsection d. of this section, if it determines that such reductions are necessary in order to achieve just and reasonable rates.
f. The board shall determine, consistent with the provisions of this act, the manner in which to apply the rate reductions established pursuant to subsections d. and e. of this section among some or all of the unbundled rate components, including the distribution and transmission charges and market transition charges, in order to provide for a sustainable aggregate rate reduction for customers and to encourage a competitive retail supply marketplace.
g. Any subsequent order to reduce rates beyond those authorized by subsections d. and e. of this section may only be issued after notice and hearing.
h. Any tax reduction implemented pursuant to P.L.1997, c.162 (C.54:30A-100 et al.) shall not be credited towards the rate reductions required pursuant to subsection d. and authorized pursuant to subsections d. and e. of this section.
i. The rate reduction associated with the reduction in the utility's capital costs, including related taxes, that results from the issuance of transition bonds pursuant to section 14 of this act shall be made no later than the date on which the transition bond charge, approved pursuant to section 14 of this act, becomes effective.
j. The maximum level of rate reduction determined by the board pursuant to this section shall be sustained at least until the end of the 48th month following the starting date for the implementation of retail choice as provided in subsection a. of section 5 of this act.
L.1999,c.23,s.4.