Electric Bill Relief Coming To NJ Residents: See How Much And When

New Jersey residents are getting another electric bill break following the sharp uptick in electricity costs.

On Wednesday, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) approved providing all New Jersey electric customers with $100 in bill credits this fall. The credits apply to customers of Atlantic City Electric (ACE), PSE&G, Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L), and Rockland Electric Company (RECO), and no action is required from account holders.

According to the BPU, the one bill credit of $50 will be applied in September, and another $50 bill credit will be applied in October.

"Providing economic relief to our residents is critical in managing rising electric costs from the PJM cost crisis," said Governor Phil Murphy. "My administration is furthering our commitment to affordability for our residential ratepayers by providing direct assistance to lower the monthly cost of energy bills. No New Jerseyan should fear losing electricity, and we will continue to work with BPU to ensure necessary action is taken to combat untenable energy bills for families and businesses."

The initiative comes after the board authorized two $30 electric bill breaks for July and August, which will be “recovered without interest from September through February.”

RELATED COVERAGE:

• NJ Lawmakers Scramble To Stop Utility Increase
• NJ Electric Bills Set To Skyrocket As Hikes Begin
• Major NJ Utility Hike Announcement Hailed As A Political Gimmick, GOP Leader Says

The bill credits are funded through the BPU’s Residential Universal Bill Credit (RUBC) program, specifically with funds from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).

Following a summer with record-high temperatures and a recent 17 to 20 percent increase in electric bill costs, the board deemed it necessary to give customers a financial break.

The hikes were the result of last year’s annual New Jersey Basic Generation Service auction, which determines the cost companies pay for power generated outside of the state. The BPU added that the rise in demand and a stressed power grid are also to blame for the price increase.

These are the average increased costs for customers following the price hike, assuming the use of 650 kilowatt hours a month:

• Atlantic City Electric: A 17.23 percent increase, or $28.02 per month
• JCP&L: A 20.20 percent increase, or $22.67 per month
• PSE&G: A 17.24 percent increase, or $26.87 per month
• Rockland Electric: An 18.18 percent increase, or $25.48 per month

Brian Lipman, director of the New Jersey Rate Council, predicted the hikes to have "a substantial impact on New Jersey families and businesses, especially those least able to afford it."

Clearly, Lipman's predictions were accurate, prompting the BPU to take action.

“Agencies recognize the importance of electricity to provide cooling during periods of extreme heat, particularly for the State’s vulnerable populations and for urban residents who face disproportionatley high temperatures due to the heat island effect,” the BPU order read. “(The) BPU remains concerned that high electric usage during August and September will result in higher customer bills in September and October. To help alleviate this financial strain on customers, BPU is proposing to use RGGI funds allocated to it to provide additional bill credits to all residential customers in September and October.”

The aforementioned electric distribution companies are required to submit a report to the board providing the total number of accounts credited and the total amount of funds disbursed within 45 days of the final disbursement, the order states.

Customers struggling to pay their electric bills can seek relief through programs including the Universal Service Fund, Fresh Start Program, Payment Assistance for Gas and Electric (PAGE) Program, Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, Lifeline, NJ Shares, and NJ Comfort Partners.