Soaring electricity bills this summer shocked customers and inspired legislation that Assemblyman Alex Sauickie says will inadvertently contribute to higher energy costs. He offered amendments during Monday’s Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee to protect consumers from bearing the financial burden of another government mandate.
The bill (A4817/S3620) considered in committee requires public utility companies using smart meters to create an energy bill watch program that informs all customers when their electricity or gas usage exceeds certain thresholds. Sauickie’s amendments would make it an opt-in program instead of mandatory unless a customer opts-out, extend the deadline to enact the program, and equip customers with more data to address energy consumption and charges.
“Experts have repeatedly cautioned legislators that additional government mandates will lead to additional costs for customers. While I believe this bill was well-intentioned, it will exacerbate the problem of high energy bills for our residents as it is currently written,” Sauickie said (R-Ocean). “My amendments would empower residents who want to enroll in such a program without financially burdening all customers who would inevitably bear the costs to run it regardless of their interest to participate.”
The committee voted down Sauickie’s amendments along party lines and passed the bill.
“My confidence to work with my colleague [the bill sponsor] is high,” Sauickie said after he voted to advance the bill. “I believe we can work across party lines to get my commonsense amendments included before the next vote. I think our goal to protect consumers from shockingly high electricity bills is the same, but we have to make changes that will help ensure customers aren’t saddled with more unexpected costs.”