NJ S684

New Jersey Board of Public Utilities would establish a three-year pilot program allowing gas public utilities to recover costs for replacing aging or leaking natural gas pipelines with geothermal energy infrastructure through ratepayer utility rates.

Gas utilities must submit infrastructure plans for board review, with the board evaluating project size, scope, cost, expected benefits including greenhouse gas emission reductions, and financial impact on ratepayers.

The board must submit annual reports to the Governor and Legislature summarizing pilot program operations, with the third and final report determining whether to make the program permanent.

The bill amends R.S.48:2-13 to include geothermal energy entities under the legal definition of "public utility," giving the Board of Public Utilities regulatory jurisdiction over such operations.

The program takes effect six months after enactment and expires 30 days after the third annual report unless the board determines the pilot should become permanent.