JCP&L Wants To Raise Electric Rates

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Monmouth County's local electricity provider, Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L), filed a request this week to raise electric rates in the area — and some elected officials remain skeptical of the need.

“We call on the Board of Public Utilities and the state rate counsel to thoroughly vet this request. Our first reaction to any call to raise costs on ratepayers must be skepticism. Has every effort been made to lower and control costs?” said Sen. Declan O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth). “We acknowledge that investments in infrastructure upgrades that we’ve called for take resources, but cost savings must be exhausted before any approval of rate increases takes place.”

JCP&L filed the request Tuesday with the state Board of Public Utilities, seeking to raise $186 million from ratepayers. JCP&L says the money will go to cover the costs of improvements to its grid.

The Board of Public Utilities is the powerful state board that gives the "yay" or "nay" vote on improving public utility fees.

However, if approved, electric bills will increase 8.5 percent for most customers.

"A typical JCP&L residential customer currently pays $102.29 per month for electricity, on average," said JCP&L spokesman Clifford Cole. "The implementation of the requested rate adjustments would increase that typical residential monthly bill by $8.73, or 8.5 percent, resulting in an average monthly payment of $111.02."

Should the BPU approve the request, JCP&L anticipates the new rates will become effective in late November 2020.

“We’ve seen some improvements, but are concerned about how this rate increase will impact our already beleaguered residents,” said Assemblywoman Serena DiMaso (R-Monmouth) on Wednesday. “Increased costs should always be met with cautious concern. Ultimately the BPU and rate counsel serve as protection for residents from unfair increases and we hope that they will look critically at this request.”

Tension between Monmouth County officials and JCP&L is nothing new: Local leaders spent much of 2016, 2017 and 2018 fighting JCP&L's attempt to build the Monmouth County Reliability Project, ten miles of mega-watt power lines that would cut through backyards and residential areas in Aberdeen, Hazlet, Red Bank and Middletown. JCP&L said the lines were badly needed to improve electric service in the area.

“Our residents should not bear the burden of more financial weight being placed upon them,” said Assemblyman Gerry Scharfenberger (R-Monmouth). “New Jersey taxpayers already struggle paycheck-to-paycheck due to Trenton’s constant mismanagement and should not have to carry more from utility companies.”

Read: BPU Rejects Monmouth County Reliability Power Line Project