WHEREAS, a
series of severe winter storms over the past several weeks consisting
of snow accumulation, freezing rain, high winds and consistent freezing
and sub-freezing temperatures have posed numerous risks and adverse
life safety impacts upon the citizens of the State of New Jersey;
and
WHEREAS, the
extreme record cold temperatures, accompanied by severe wind chill
factors and icy conditions have produced heavy residential and commercial
usage of heat and electrical utilities which have resulted in electrical
brownouts, stoppages and other heating shortages throughout the
State; and
WHEREAS, the
Board of Regulatory Commissioners is currently monitoring the energy
supply shortage through its Emergency Information Center in order
to keep apprised of and, disseminate to all relevant parties, the
most current information regarding the energy shortage; and
WHEREAS, pursuant
to law, the Acting Commissioner of the Department of Environmental
Protection and Energy has made a finding that there exists an energy
supply shortage of a dimension which endangers the public health,
safety and welfare of all regions of the State;
NOW, THEREFORE,
I, CHRISTINE TODD WHITMAN, Governor of the State of New Jersey,
by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
by the Statutes of this State, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT as follows:
1. There
is hereby declared a state of energy emergency for all heat and
electrical utilities for the entire State.
2. All State
agencies, boards, authorities and commissions shall immediately
manage their facilities in such a manner as to reduce the use
of electricity.
3. All local
and county governmental entities are encouraged to reduce their
electrical usage to only essential usage for the duration of this
state of energy emergency.
4. All commercial,
residential and industrial power consumers are encouraged to reduce
their use of electricity during this state of energy emergency.
5. In order
to facilitate the reduction of energy usage by all State agencies,
boards, authorities and commissions, and in order to protect the
safety of all State employees from hazard due to the severe ice
and weather conditions, all non-essential State employees ("employees")
are released from work today, January 19, 1994, pursuant to the
following schedule:
A. Any
employee whose normal work day ends at 4 p.m. may leave at 3
p.m.;
B. Any
employee whose normal work day ends at 4:30 p.m. may leave at
3:30 p.m.; and
C. Any
employee whose normal work day ends at 5 p.m. may leave at 4
p.m.
6. This
state of energy emergency shall remain in effect until it is rescinded
by issuance of a subsequent Executive Order declaring that the
state of energy emergency has terminated.
7. This
Order shall take effect immediately.
GIVEN,
under my hand and seal,
this 19th day of January in the Year
of Our Lord, one thousand nine hundred
and ninety-four, and of the Independence
of the United States, the two hundred
and eighteenth.
/s/
Christine Todd Whitman
Governor
Attest:
/s/Peter Verniero
Chief Counsel to the Governor
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