Criteria for determining effective competition

19. Within 180 days of the effective date of this amendatory and supplementary act, the Board of Public Utilities shall establish, in rules and regulations adopted pursuant to the provisions of the "Administrative Procedure Act," the criteria and procedures to be utilized by the board in making a determination of effective competition. a. The board shall utilize the criteria in making a determination as to whether a lack of effective competition is likely to occur if the board approves a transaction pursuant to the provisions of R.S.48:3-7, or in making a determination as to whether a lack of effective competition exists within a specific geographic area, class of customers or type of solid waste collection services. b. The criteria shall include, but need not be limited to, the following: (1) the existence of barriers to entry of persons seeking to provide solid waste collection services within a specific geographic area, class of customers or type of service; (2) the structure of the solid waste collection industry within a specific geographic area, class of customers or type of service, including the number of participating solid waste collectors, the intensity of competition, or the concentration in ownership of collection or haulage vehicles or other equipment; and (3) the existence of patterns of anti-competitive behavior by persons providing solid waste collection services within a specific geographic area, class of customers or type of service. c. The board shall utilize the criteria in conjunction with generally accepted economic indicators which shall be identified in rules and regulations adopted pursuant to the provisions of the "Administrative Procedure Act." These indicators may include an evaluation of capital investment costs, economies of scale, differentiation of service, technological barriers facing entrants, financial requirements, including capital entry or exit costs, regulatory barriers, and business characteristics, including number of customers, customer turnover, annual gross revenues, class or type of service provided, and annual net income. d. The board shall establish procedures to be utilized in reviewing the rates or charges received by a solid waste collector pursuant to sections 6 and 20 of P.L.1991, c.381 (C.48:13A-7.6 and 48:13A-7.20).