2. a. The board shall adopt, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), rules and regulations requiring an electric public utility to give priority to a facility for electric public utility power restoration after an extended power outage following a major event, except that power restoration efforts to a facility shall not divert efforts to restore power where needed to otherwise maintain overall public safety.
b. The rules and regulations adopted by the board pursuant to subsection a. of this section shall allow an electric public utility to exercise its discretion to prioritize power restoration to a facility after an extended power outage in accordance with the facility's needs and with the characteristics of the geographic area in which power shall be restored.