Prohibits certain public utilities from charging residents of multi-unit dwellings meter-reading fees in certain circumstances.
This bill prohibits electric and gas utilities from charging residential customers in multi-unit dwellings (like apartments) a meter-reading fee that exceeds the actual cost of their electricity or gas usage for the billing period. It specifically targets fees charged to customers who opted out of smart meter installation and require manual meter readings. Utilities must cap these fees at the precise cost of the customer's usage, preventing overcharging for manual reading services. The law applies immediately upon enactment and defines key terms like "meter-reading fee" and "smart meter" in the bill text.
Bill status
passed
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
May 2025
Committee Review
Jan 2026
General Assembly Passage
Dec 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced May 5, 2025
Last action Jan 6, 2026
Floor votes · General Assembly Dec 22, 2025
How they voted
72–0
Passed · 6 other
Total votes 78
Dec 22, 2025
D
Democratic50
94% Yea
R
Republican28
89% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
6
Key actions
2
Committee
2
Jan 6, 2026
Committee
Received in the Senate, Referred to Senate Economic Growth Committee
upper
Dec 22, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed Assembly (74-0-0)
lower
Dec 11, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported out of Assembly Committee with Amendments, 2nd Reading
lower
May 5, 2025
Introduced
Introduced in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee
lower
3 primary · 2 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Ask Maddy
·
AI policy assistant
Ask Maddy about A 5583
Scope: NJ
Hi! I can help you understand A 5583. What would you like to know?
Try one of these
i
Maddy answers using official bill text and legislative records. Always verify before sharing.
Sources cited inline