On Wednesday, as New Jersey observes Climate Week, Acting Governor Tahesha Way signed legislation to establish a Summer Termination Program, a new safeguard designed to protect vulnerable residents from utility shutoffs during periods of extreme heat.
The new law, A5563/S4361, directs the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) and the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to implement a program that mirrors the existing Winter Termination Program, preventing the discontinuation of essential services like electricity, water, and sewer from June 15 to Aug. 31 each year.
The bill signing addresses a growing concern for public health and safety as the climate crisis leads to more frequent and intense heat waves.
“This legislation will ensure that, during the hot summer months, residents can keep their air conditioning and water running,” Acting Governor Way said. “The Summer Termination Program is one of the many steps our Administration is taking to bolster public health and ensure hardworking New Jerseyans are not forced to endure dangerous heat indoors.”
Under the new law, residential customers who meet the eligibility criteria for the Winter Termination Program or can demonstrate an inability to pay due to circumstances beyond their control will be protected from service termination. The measure is a direct response to the “regional electricity affordability crisis,” which officials attribute to a series of events, including the alleged mismanagement by regional grid operator PJM Interconnection.
The establishment of the program is part of a broader effort by the Murphy Administration to combat rising energy costs and protect consumers. Other recent actions include:
- Calling for a formal investigation into PJM’s operations.
- Announcing $430 million in economic relief for New Jersey ratepayers.
- Signing legislation to increase public accountability from grid operators.
- Expanding the state’s clean energy and energy storage capacity.
Legislators and advocates applauded the signing, emphasizing the critical need for the program. State Senator Raj Mukherji, a prime sponsor of the bill, noted that in extreme temperatures, a power shutoff is not just a financial hardship but a “threat to health and safety, particularly for children, seniors, people with chronic conditions, and those living in poorly insulated homes.”
Similarly, DCA Commissioner Jacquelyn Suárez highlighted the financial challenges many families face, stating that the program “will support public health and safety while giving people time to make deferred payment arrangements or apply for utility assistance.”
The bill’s prime sponsors also include Senator Nilsa Cruz-Perez and Assemblymembers Eliana Pintor Marin, Reginald Atkins, Verlina Reynolds-Jackson, and Annette Quijano. AARP New Jersey State Director Chris Widelo and the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters also voiced their support, calling the law a “critical step to put people before profits.”
