6. a. A local unit shall be required to conduct a periodic study of the adequacy and reasonableness of the rates, fees, rents, and charges for a water system that the local unit owns or operates through a utility. The Local Finance Board in the Department of Community Affairs shall adopt, pursuant to the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C. 52:14B-1 et seq.), the procedures, requirements, and frequency of the study. Each completed study shall be submitted to the Director of the Division of Local Government Services in the Department of Community Affairs along with the annual budget of the local unit.

b. The director may summon appropriate officials of the local unit to a hearing before the Local Finance Board if the director determines that the rates, fees, rents, or charges for a water system that the local unit owns or operates through a utility may not be adequate or reasonable as determined by the study conducted pursuant to subsection a. of this section, or if the local unit fails to conduct a study pursuant to subsection a. of this section. The Local Finance Board may require the production of papers, documents, witnesses, or information and may take or cause to be made an audit or investigation of the circumstances with respect to which the hearing was called. After the hearing, the Local Finance Board shall have the power to order the local unit to adjust the utility’s water system-related rents, rates, fees, or charges, or take such other action as the Local Finance Board deems appropriate to ensure the integrity of the utility’s water infrastructure, and this order shall be valid and enforceable notwithstanding any provision of R.S.48:2-1 et seq. to the contrary.

L.2021, c.184, s.6.