52:27F-17. State of energy emergency; proclamation by executive order of governor; powers of commissioner; review of order; termination

a. Upon a finding by the commissioner that there exists or impends an energy supply shortage of a dimension which endangers the public health, safety, or welfare in all or any part of the State, the Governor is authorized to proclaim by executive order a state of energy emergency for a period of up to 6 months. The Governor may limit the applicability of any such state of emergency to specific kinds of energy forms or to specific areas of the State in which such a shortage exists or impends.

b. During the duration of a state of energy emergency the commissioner to the extent not in conflict with applicable Federal law or regulation but notwithstanding any State or local law or contractual agreement, shall be empowered to:

(1) Order any person to reduce by a specified amount the use of any energy form; to make use of an alternate energy form, where possible; or to cease the use of any energy form;

(2) Order any person engaged in the distribution of any energy form to reduce or increase by a specified amount or to cease the distribution of such energy form; to distribute a specified amount and type of energy form to certain users as specified by the commissioner; or to share supplies of any energy form with other distributors thereof;

(3) Establish priorities for the distribution of any energy form;

(4) Regulate and control the distribution and sale of any energy form by:

(a) Establishing such limitations, priorities, or rationing procedures as shall be necessary to insure a fair and equitable distribution of available supplies;

(b) Establishing minimum and maximum quantities to be sold to any purchaser;

(c) Fixing the days and hours of access to retail dealers;

(d) Compelling sales to members of the general public during times when a retail dealer is open for the sale of an energy form;

(e) Establishing methods for notifying the public by flags, symbols, or other appropriate means whether such retail dealers are open and selling the subject energy form;

(5) Direct the heads of those departments and agencies within State Government that were ordered to develop contingency plans pursuant to section 14 of this act to implement said plans;

(6) Adopt and promulgate such rules and regulations as are necessary and proper to carry out the purposes of this section.

c. During the existence of a state of energy emergency, the Governor may order the suspension of any laws, rules, regulations, or orders of any department or agency in State Government or within any political subdivision which deal with or affect energy and which impede his ability to alleviate or terminate a state of energy emergency.

d. Any aggrieved person, upon application to the commissioner shall be granted a review of whether the continuance of any order issued by the commissioner pursuant to this section is unreasonable in light of then prevailing conditions of emergency.

e. During a state of energy emergency the commissioner may require any other department or other agency within State Government to provide such information, assistance, resources, and personnel as shall be necessary to discharge his functions and responsibilities under this act, rules and regulations adopted hereunder, or applicable Federal law and regulations.

f. The powers granted to the Governor and the commissioner under this section shall be in addition to and not in limitation of any emergency powers now or hereafter vested in the Governor, the commissioner, or any other State Government department or agency pursuant to any other laws, including but not limited to any power vested in the Board of Public Utilities to require utility companies to allocate available supplies of energy; provided, however, that upon declaring a state of energy emergency, the Governor may supersede any other such emergency powers.

g. The state of energy emergency declared by the Governor pursuant to this section shall remain in effect until the Governor declares by a subsequent executive order that the state of energy emergency has terminated.

L.1977, c. 146, s. 15, eff. July 11, 1977.