N.J. Admin. Code § 14:3-1.3

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 9, May 6, 2024

Section 14:3-1.3 - Tariffs

(a) Each public utility shall, prior to offering a utility service to the public, submit a tariff or tariff amendments to the Board for approval, with an electronic copy to Rate Counsel. The tariff filing shall meet the applicable requirements for pleadings at N.J.A.C. 14:1-4, the applicable requirements for petitions at 14:1-5.1 through 5.5, and the applicable requirements for tariff filings at 14:1-5.1 1, 5.12, and/or 5.12A.

(b) The tariff required by this section shall:

1. Clearly identify the public utility, list all relevant contact information, and describe the public utility's service area;

2. Clearly describe all services that the utility offers, and all terms and conditions regarding the services;

3. Include all of the public utility's rates and charges for all services that the utility offers. The rates for each separate and distinct class of service rendered by a utility shall be filed as a separate schedule; and

4. Meet all requirements of this section.

(c) In addition to the requirements for all tariffs under (a) and (b) above, a telephone utility tariff shall also include all of the following:

1. Exchange rate schedules, which shall include:

i. Primary rate schedules;

ii. Private branch exchange rate schedules;

iii. Miscellaneous rate schedules; and

iv. Exchange area maps; and

2. Toll service rate schedules, which shall include:

i. Basic rate schedules;

ii. Supplementary rate schedules; and

iii. A list of toll points.

(d) Each utility shall operate in accordance with its tariff at all times, unless specifically authorized in writing by the Board to do otherwise.

(e) If a gas, electric, water or wastewater utility plans to enter into a contract or agreement with a particular customer or group of customers, for service at rates different from those authorized under the utility's Board-approved tariff, the utility shall file a petition for approval, which shall include four copies of the contract or agreement, at least 30 days prior to the effective date of the agreement or contract. If a telephone utility enters into a contract or agreement with a particular customer or group of customers, for service at rates different from those provided for under the utility's Board-approved tariff, the telephone utility shall make all individual case contracts (ICCs) available for inspection by Board staff upon request.

(f) Each filing requesting Board approval under (e) above shall be accompanied by a detailed statement that includes:

1. The type of service to be provided under the contract or agreement; for example, firm or interruptible service;

2. A detailed list of the costs and expenses to the utility that will result from its performance under the contract or agreement;

3. Rates and other charges that the customer will pay;

4. The effect of the contract or agreement on the utility's revenues and income, in detail;

5. The utility's reasons for entering into the contract or agreement;

6. A complete and detailed list of every way in which the contract or agreement changes or affects the utility's Board-approved tariff;

7. The rate treatment of any change in costs, expenses and/or revenues, and the predicted impact of the change on other ratepayers of the utility; and

8. Any other potential impacts on other ratepayers, not described in (f)1 through 7 above.

(g) Where more than one rate schedule is available to a particular customer, a utility shall assist the customer in selecting the rate schedule most favorable for the customer. Each utility shall include this requirement among the terms and conditions of its tariff.

(h) Each utility shall make its Board-approved tariff available for public inspection in each utility office where applications for service may be made, and on its website, if the utility has a website.

(i) If there is any inconsistency between this chapter and a tariff, these rules shall govern, except if the tariff provides for more favorable treatment of customers than does this chapter, in which case the tariff shall govern.

N.J. Admin. Code § 14:3-1.3

New Rule, R.2008 d.119, effective 5/19/2008.
See: 39 N.J.R. 4077(b), 40 N.J.R. 2481(a).
Amended by R.2009 d.15, effective 1/5/2009.
See: 40 N.J.R. 2414(a), 41 N.J.R. 270(a).
In (e), inserted "gas, electric, water or wastewater", "a petition for approval, which shall include", and the last sentence; in (f)5, deleted "and" from the end; in (f)6, substituted a semicolon for a period at the end; and added (f)7 and (f)8.