Reject 8.8% Utility Hike, 9th District Legislators Urge BPU

TRENTON, NJ — Ninth District legislators are asking New Jersey utility regulators to reject a proposed electric rate increase by Jersey Central Power & Light.

Sen. Carmen Amato Jr., Assemblyman Brian Rumpf and Assemblyman Gregory Myhre wrote to New Jersey Board of Public Utilities President Ben Hertz-Shargel calling on the agency to "immediately and outright reject the 8.8 percent rate hike recently proposed by Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L)."

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READ MORE: JCP&L Seeks 8.8 % Electric Rate Hike

The lawmakers said the proposed increase would raise the average JCP&L customer's electric bill by $14.23 per month, or $170.76 annually.

In the letter, the legislative delegation wrote: "It is our understanding that under the proposed increase, the average JCP&L customer's electric bill would increase by $14.23 per month, or $170.76 annually. If approved by the BPU, the proposed increase would take effect in January 2028, immediately following the holiday season."

"In representing the people of the 9th Legislative District, our Delegation is once again calling on the BPU and the Sherrill Administration to reject JCP&L's proposed 8.8 percent electric rate increase. Such action would provide meaningful relief to struggling ratepayers and send a clear message that New Jersey residents cannot continue to be expected to absorb higher utility costs while rate increases are routinely approved in Trenton," the delegation said.

The delegation also pointed to two pieces of legislation it has introduced on utility costs. S-4410 and A-5230 would allow New Jersey residents to claim a state income tax deduction for taxes and fees paid on home electric and natural gas bills, specifically sales tax and societal benefit charges.

The lawmakers also have introduced S-1619 and A-2848. Those bills would require any increases in energy sales tax revenue to be dedicated to utility assistance programs rather than deposited into the state's General Fund.