RICE INTRODUCES BILL PACKAGE DEALING WITH POWER OUTAGES IN THE WAKE OF A PUBLIC EMERGENCY

Measures Would Ensure Robust Power Generators in Senior-Disabled Residential Facilities, Would Require Electric Public Utilities to Provide Map of Electric Grid to Local Public Officials

TRENTON – Last week, Senator Ronald L. Rice introduced two bills to deal with issues that arose in the wake of Hurricane Sandy in the restoration of power to affected communities. The bills would ensure that residential facilities for seniors and individuals with disabilities have robust generator equipment to provide full power to the facility, and would require electric service providers to create and provide a map of the municipal electric circuit to local public officials.

“After Hurricane Sandy, we recognized that our power delivery system in New Jersey is seriously flawed,” said Senator Rice, D-Essex. “Safeguards for vulnerable populations weren’t sufficient or, in some cases, even operational, and municipal officials and electric service providers were essentially fumbling in the dark in some areas in order to repair the grid and re-power municipalities. By following these basic and common sense proposals, we can be in a much better place moving forward.”

Click here to read the rest of Senator Rice's news release.

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