News from Assemblyman Cryan

Cryan Bill to Improve Communication with Utility Customers During Emergencies Clears Assembly (TRENTON) – The General Assembly on Monday approved legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Joseph Cryan to help improve communications with utility customers during the event of an emergency. “Communication is key in any emergency,” said Cryan (D-Union). “This is a common sense plan that we want to make sure every utility provider is following to ensure that they always have a back-up method to reach customers with critical alerts or notifications. For example, if I’m elderly or have health problems and I’m without power during a storm, I want to know that my utility provider has a way of alerting me in the event that the outage will be prolonged and I might need to seek alternate shelter.” The bill (A-3619) would require electric, water, and gas public utilities, telecommunications companies, and cable television companies, to annually submit a request in written form to each customer to obtain alternate modes of communication not associated with the customer’s account, at which it may communicate with the customer in the case of a service interruption or emergency. . The bill was approved 73-3.