N.J. Admin. Code § 14:9-11.1

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 11, June 3, 2024

Section 14:9-11.1 - Purpose, scope, and general provisions

(a) This subchapter establishes for wastewater (sewer) utilities in New Jersey, a voluntary Wastewater System Improvement Charge (WSIC), which is an initiative intended to create a regulatory mechanism that enables the accelerated level of investment needed to promote the timely rehabilitation and replacement of certain non-revenue producing, critical wastewater distribution components that enhance safety, reliability, public health, effluent quality, and/or conservation. Through a WSIC, after approval of the foundational filing, a wastewater utility may charge customers, up to the WSIC cap amount, for the costs of rehabilitating, improving, or replacing wastewater infrastructure in accordance with this subchapter.

(b) The purpose of a WSIC is to provide a rate recovery mechanism that encourages and supports necessary accelerated rehabilitation and replacement. As set forth under this subchapter, such investment would occur in a systematic and sustained way to advance the accelerated rehabilitation and replacement of wastewater infrastructure needed for conservation, continued system safety and reliability, improved effluent quality, and sustained economic growth in the State of New Jersey.

(c) The Board shall require frequent and detailed monitoring and reporting of expenditures during all phases of the WSIC, as set forth in this subchapter, in order to ensure prudent investment and compliance with this subchapter.

(d) All petitions to the Board regarding WSIC activities shall be submitted by the wastewater utility.

(e) A WSIC rate is interim, subject to refund, until the subsequent base rate case.

N.J. Admin. Code § 14:9-11.1

Adopted by 52 N.J.R. 2115(a), effective 12/7/2020