9th District Blasts 'Excessive' Natural Gas Rate Increase

TRENTON, NJ — New Jersey residents may soon see higher heating bills following a proposal by New Jersey Natural Gas that the 9th District delegation is calling "excessive."

Sen. Carmen Amato and Assemblymen Brian Rumpf and Greg Myhre sent a letter to the Board of Public Utilties (BPU) asking them to reject the petition that would increase rates by nearly 24 percent.

"Approving the rate increase would blatantly deviate from the Board's Mission Statement to ensure affordable rates to all members of the public who seek such services," said the Delegation in a letter sent to BPU President Christine Guhl-Sadovy, calling the increase "unconscionable."

The matter is "urgent," they said, as many ratepayers are already struggling financially and an increase would "represent a direct cost of living increase."

According to the Asbury Park Press, the increase is to help recoup costs for system upgrades, including the replacement of vintage distribution mains and service lines.

Amato, Rumpf and Myhre asked that the BPU reject the petition "without hesitation."

Read the full text of the letter here.