Bill Limiting Supplier Telemarketing Advances in New Jersey

The New Jersey General Assembly has passed a bill to limit telemarketing by electric suppliers.

Specifically, the Assembly approved A-3422, which would, among other things, prohibit an electric supplier from contacting a potential residential customer by telephone more than once per calendar year for the purpose of making an unsolicited advertisement if the supplier does not have an existing business relationship with the potential residential customer.

Consistent with existing penalties, the bill would impose fines of up to $25,000 per day for violations of the telemarketing standards, and would also make license revocation an available remedy.

The bill awaits action in the Senate, where a similar bill (S-2308) has been voted out of committee. The Senate bill is notable in that it applies to same provisions in the House bill to natural gas suppliers and the agents of energy suppliers, in addition to applying to electric suppliers.