N.J. Admin. Code § 14:3-3.2

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 24, December 18, 2024

Section 14:3-3.2 - Customer applications for service

(a) Applications by a customer for the establishment of service may be made at the utility's office either in person, by regular mail or through the utility's website, facsimile transmission, electronic mail, where available, or by telephone. If the utility requires a written application, the application may be subsequently submitted to the customer for signature.

(b) A utility shall not place the name of a second individual on the account of a residential customer unless specifically requested by said second individual.

(c) A utility shall advise a customer of the rate schedule most applicable to that customer and suggest a change in rate schedule, if and when appropriate.

(d) When a customer makes application for service to any utility and the service requested is supplied by another utility, the utility shall advise the customer when possible of the appropriate utility to whom the application should be made.

(e) If a utility requires proof of identity with an application for service, the utility shall accept any of the following items to establish identity, and may also accept other documents at the utility's discretion:

1. A valid driver's license;

2. A birth certificate;

3. A valid U.S. passport;

4. A valid U.S. residency card with photograph;

5. A valid U.S. military identification card;

6. A valid county identification card;

7. A valid county welfare identification card;

8. A valid student identification card; or

9. A valid identification card issued by the State of New Jersey.

(f) If a utility requires proof of prior address with an application for service, the utility shall accept any of the following items to establish prior address, and may also accept other documents at the utility's discretion:

1. A notarized lease, deed, or letter from the prior landlord;

2. A current auto insurance policy;

3. A bank statement;

4. A credit card statement; or

5. A letter of credit worthiness from a utility.

(g) Within two business days of receipt of the customer's application for utility service, or on a mutually agreed upon date, the utility shall initiate the service, except in those cases where the utility or customer must install or contract to install an extension, as defined at N.J.A.C. 14:3-8.2, to the structure where said service shall be received.

(h) A utility shall not require a social security number as a condition of providing service.

N.J. Admin. Code § 14:3-3.2

Amended by R.1991 d.144, effective 5/6/1991.
See: 22 N.J.R. 615(d), 23 N.J.R. 1445(a).
Established what items may be used as proof of identity and as proof of prior address.
Amended by R.1992 d.456, effective 11/16/1992.
See: 24 N.J.R. 2341(a), 24 N.J.R. 4271(a).
New (c) added requiring applications to request name and address of fire protection insurance company and policy number; recodified (c) and (d) as (d) and (e).
Amended by R.1997 d.39, effective 2/3/1997.
See: 28 N.J.R. 1810(a), 29 N.J.R. 449(a).
In (a), inserted references to fax and e-mail; added (a)1 and (a)2; in (e)1, substituted "prior landlord" for "present landlord"; and added (f).
Amended by R.2002 d.280, effective 9/16/2002.
See: 34 N.J.R. 992(a), 34 N.J.R. 3216(b).
In (a), substituted "application" for "same" preceding "may be" in the introductory paragraph and substituted "a customer" for "customers" preceding "of the rate schedule" and "that" for "said" in 2.
Amended by R.2008 d.119, effective 5/19/2008.
See: 39 N.J.R. 4077(b), 40 N.J.R. 2481(a).
Section was "Applications". Recodified (a)1 and (a)2 as (b) and (c); recodified former (b) as (d); deleted former (c); recodified former (d) through (f) as (e) through (g); in (d), substituted the third occurrence of "utility" for "company"; rewrote (e) and (f); in (g), inserted a comma following the second occurrence of "service" and substituted "an extension, as defined at N.J.A.C. 14:3-8.2," for "service lines"; and added (h).
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)4 through (e)8, inserted "valid"; in (e)7, deleted "or" from the end; in (e)8, substituted "; or" for a period at the end; and added (e)9.

Amended by 54 N.J.R. 1612(a), effective 8/15/2022