Towns Could Ban Utilities For Bad Service Under Proposed Law

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — A local lawmaker is turning up the heat on the state's utility companies.

Assemblyman Christopher DePhillips (R-40) introduced legislation Monday that would revise and update the public utility franchise process.

The revisions would allow towns to revoke a utility's franchise for poor service. They come weeks after thousands of customers of New York-based Orange & Rockland, which provides power to several Bergen County towns, were left without power. Some lost power for more than a week after three nor'easters blanketed the area with several feet of snow.

The company serves Wyckoff, Oakland, Mahwah and Ramsey.

"Local mayors are furious with Orange & Rockland's repeated failure to provide adequate service during storm preparedness and response," DePhillips said in a press release.

DePhillips noted that, according to news reports, utility workers were "sitting in trucks watching down lines," after one of the storms.

"It's unacceptable," DePhillips said.

The bill would require utilities to continuously afford safe, adequate and proper service. Failure to do so would allow a town to switch to another provider.

It would also enhance the state Board of Public Utility's role in reviewing and approving franchises and increases penalties for violations from $100 a day to $25,000. Municipalities could limit their contracts with utility franchises to seven years under the new law.

"This is a service issue, as well as a public safety issue," DePhillips said. "Young children and senior citizens should never have to go days or a week or more without power or heat. The utilities should have learned their lessons from prior storms."

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