The Secretary of the Board is responsible for managing the Board’s agenda process and serves as the agency’s Custodian of Records to ensure compliance with the Open Public Records Act. In 2018, the Secretary’s Office processed 128 records requests. Further, the Board Secretary manages the Board’s low-income energy assistance programs, including the Universal Service Fund (USF) and Payment Assistance for Gas and Electric (PAGE). More information about these and other assistance programs is available here.

 

The Division of Customer Assistance, which handles constituent inquiries, also reports to the Secretary. In accordance with N.J.S.A. 48:2-4, the Secretary of the Board is charged with the duty to “keep full and correct minutes of all transactions and proceedings of the Board” and to be “the official reporter of the proceedings of the Board.”

 

The Office of Case Management is within the Secretary’s Office and is responsible for tracking and recording every action taken in each petition/application filed, managing the case and electronic files, and ensuring they are complete and publicly accessible. In 2022, Case Management processed 1,540 formal petitions. Each petition includes not only the associated paper, but also an entry into the InfoShare system for every correspondence received and sent, as well as other related actions such as hearings and decisions. In addition to its function as the Centralized Records Management Office, Case Management is also responsible for the Board’s Agenda Management Control process, which is also coordinated by the staff. In 2022, there were 20 Agenda Meetings and 1 Special Agenda Meeting, which resulted in 321 Board Orders. These documents setting forth the Board’s formal decisions were officially served to the parties of record, uploaded to InfoShare and placed on the Board’s website for easy public access. The Secretary’s Office approved 12 sets of minutes and processed 133 Board-approved applications for energy licenses and registrations.

The Office of Case Management serves as the Board's official Records Management Office. Among its responsibilities, the Office is responsible for the following processes:

 

• Agenda Management Control (i.e.: preparing the Agenda, processing Board Orders for web posting and public access. Completes entries with a synopsis of each Board approved decision into the InfoShare system);
• Docketing Management Control (i.e.: establishing docket numbers and ensuring all associated documents are maintained in the Case File, InfoShare System and made accessible to all stakeholders, including the public, and the redistribution of mail throughout the agency,
• Works closely with the Office of the Secretary to support and assist with the Open Public Records Act (OPRA) compliance;
• Maintains and controls the BPU Public Search Tool documents for public access and assesses public access requests submitted electronically through InfoShare
• Maintains correspondences electronically (i.e.: Petitions, Applications, Motions, Briefs, Comments, Stipulations, Formal Complaints, and associated Reports)
• Processes, maintains, and forwards all accompanying material of the Initial Decisions and OAL Hearings;
• Serves as the Agency's liaison for the InfoShare system and E-Filing with the Office of Information Technology (IT);
• Preparing weekly reports (i.e.: Newly Docketed Matters, Hearing Calendar, and Initial Decision) and daily updating the website for public access;
• Maintains and facilitates archive requests, following OPRA guidelines, archives dockets quarterly, and researches on out-of-date Board orders and case files.
• Serves as point of contact for members of the public wishing to review materials maintained in the Board's files.
• Assists Divisions and Administers NJBPU's document retention guidelines