Prohibits certain electric public utility rate increases and requires certain protections for ratepayers.

This bill (S 1613) prohibits New Jersey electric utilities from raising customer rates specifically to cover smart meter installation costs. It requires utilities to publicly disclose rate increase details (amount, date, reasons, and expected bill impact) 30 days before and after any increase, with fines up to $10,000 for noncompliance. For rate hikes causing a 5%+ average bill increase, utilities must report to the federal Department of Energy 60 days in advance and provide annual reports on service interruptions and overdue bills. Additionally, utilities cannot disconnect service or charge late fees for six months following such a 5%+ rate increase. The bill directly affects all New Jersey electric utility customers.