2. a. (1) The provisions of any other law, rule, regulation, or order to the contrary notwithstanding, the board, or the Office of Administrative Law acting pursuant to subsection (c) of section 10 of the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C. 52:14B-10(c)), shall conduct as many of its public hearings held to review applications by public utilities other than municipal, county, or other local government owned companies not subject to the jurisdiction of the board for significant increases, changes, or alterations in their rate schedules, in the service area of the applicant as the board deems necessary or appropriate to afford the affected ratepayers the opportunity to monitor the decision-making process by which the rates are set. At least two public hearings shall be held in the service area with respect to any application except that, if substantial portions of the service area are located in more than one geographic region of the State, then at least two public hearings shall be held in the service area located in each of those geographic regions, under the terms and conditions specified in this subsection. One of the public hearings held in the service area, or one of the hearings held in each geographic area, as the case may be, shall be a hearing in which petitioners, respondents, and intervenors are parties. At the second hearing required by the provisions of this subsection, statements by objectors shall be permitted. All public hearings held pursuant to the provisions of this subsection shall be held at places which are easily accessible to the public with at least one hearing held during evening hours.

(2) As used in this subsection, “public utility” means “public utility” as defined in R.S.48:2-13.

b. On the day that the final public hearing is to be held in connection with any application, after which the recommended report and decision is to be filed in accordance with subsection (c) of section 10 of the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C. 52:14B-10(c)), the administrative law judge or the board, as the case may be, may require the parties to the proceedings to present a summary statement of their cases or defenses. After the presentation, statements by the objectors shall be permitted in order to accord persons not parties to the proceedings an opportunity to participate in the proceedings. If no presentation is made, objector’s statements shall be permitted in any event before the conclusion of the hearing. The final public hearing shall be held in the service area.

L.1983, c.454, s.2; amended 2017, c.77, s.2.