Signed on December 21st, Senate Bill 4081 instituted
the following immediate measures for residential
customers of local government water, sewer, and
electric service:
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Extending until March 15, 2022 the shutoff
moratorium for water, sewer, and municipal
electric service. This moratorium does not apply
to a shut off needed to prevent or reduce the
risk to public health or safety.
-
Extending the grace period for water and
municipal electric charges until March 15, 2022.
-
A grace period has been instituted for the
unpaid balance of any sewer charges until March
15, 2022. Delinquent sewer charges that were
sold at tax sale by January 1, 2022 are not
affected. Please note that interest and
penalties, including the year-end penalty,
cannot be enforced on the unpaid balance.
-
An installment plan must be offered to satisfy
the unpaid balance of any water, sewer, and
electric charges accrued between March 9, 2020
and March 15, 2022. Delinquent sewer charges
accruing between March 9, 2020 and December 31,
2021 that had been sold at tax sale by January
1, 2022 are not affected.
a.
The installment plan shall have a minimum 12
month duration unless the residential customer
requests a shorter payback period, and cannot
require the residential customer to pay a down
payment, deposit, or reconnection costs. The
maximum duration of an
installment plan remains five (5) years pursuant
to N.J.S.A. 54:5-19.
b. An installment plan cannot require the payment of
interest or penalties on the unpaid balance.
c. Notwithstanding N.J.S.A. 54:5-19, an installment
plan must be offered even if one already exists
on the property for property taxes, assessments
or other municipal charges.
d. If a residential customer does not agree to an
installment plan within 30 days of being offered
a plan by the municipality or local authority,
appropriate enforcement action can be taken
after March 15, 2022, including bringing to tax
sale the unpaid
balance accruing between March 9, 2020 and
December 31, 2021. Please note that interest and
penalties, including the year-end penalty,
cannot be enforced on the unpaid balance.
-
After March 15, 2022, delinquent water, sewer,
and electric charges that had accrued prior to
March 9, 2020 and after March 15, 2022 can be
enforced pursuant to law including interest and
penalties. A municipality or local authority is
not obligated to offer an installment plan for
such accrued charges.
*The term residential customer means a residential
customer of record of a local authority or municipal
utility, or any residential tenant of a residence
where the owner or any agent or other representative
of the owner of the residence is a non-residential
customer of record. |