NJ S4096

Prohibits electric utilities from raising rates to recover the costs of installing smart meters

Requires utilities to publish rate increase details on their website and in customer bills from 30 days before to 30 days after any rate increase takes effect, including the amount, reasons, expected bill impact, and complaint information; violations carry fines up to $10,000

Mandates utilities report rate increases of 5% or greater to the federal Department of Energy at least 60 days before implementation, along with mitigation measures

Requires annual reports to the federal Department of Energy on service interruption trends and overdue bill trends

Prohibits utilities from disconnecting service or assessing late fees for six months following any rate increase that raises bills by 5% or more