RIBLE CALLS FOR RATE FREEZE ON UTILITIES

By ARep

RIBLE CALLS FOR RATE FREEZE ON UTILITIES Residents Need Some Relief for Winter

With New Jersey residents facing an uncertain economic situation and being just as unsure about their financial future, Assemblyman Dave Rible (R- Monmouth) called for a freeze in utility rates over the next six months. Rible expressed concern after hikes were recently granted by the Board of Public Utilities to New Jersey Natural Gas and Public Service Electric & Gas.

“The approval by BPU will result in higher utility bills for many New Jerseyans,” stated Rible. “At this time, asking people who are struggling to make ends meet to pay an additional $20.00 per month on their utility bill lacks compassion. While the state may be limited as to how much of an impact it can have in providing assistance to its residents during these tumultuous times, here is an opportunity to demonstrate sensitivity as to what people are experiencing. The primary beneficiaries of holding the rates in place will be the middle class who are paying their bills, but are under pressure to keep up.”

At this point, NJNG and PSE&G are only utilities to have requested a rate increase. New Jersey Natural Gas services approximately 500,000 customers in Monmouth, Ocean, Middlesex, and Morris Counties, while PSE&G serves about three-quarters of the state’s population.

“Most of the items in the recently proposed stimulus package by the governor will help a targeted audience,” continued Rible. “By freezing utility rates at least through the winter season, all residents will benefit, regardless of their socioeconomic status. Holding the line on further increases would be welcomed by everyone in the state and put teeth into the statement that government understands the pain which people are feeling.”

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AREP can be reached via email at ARepOffice@njleg.org.

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Comments

Eliminate Degregulation

posted by VinCognito

I believe it is Michigan that is undoing the deregulation of utilities and going back to a regulated utility industry. Ah remember the days when people thought .53000 was high for NJ and complanied - hope you've enjoyed paying over a dollar.

10/21/08 11:57 am

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Eliminate Degregulation

posted by VinCognito

States pull the plug on electricity dereg
By Eric Kelderman, Stateline.org Staff Writer
In 1996, California launched a national fad by allowing power utilities to compete for customers within and across its borders. By 2000, 23 states and the District of Columbia had rushed down the path of electricity deregulation. But the fad to open up the electricity market has faltered. Residential consumers have found little reason to switch to new power providers, and the promises of lower prices and a reliable electricity infrastructure have failed to materialize. The California energy crisis of 2000-2001, the financial scandals of energy giant Enron, and the massive Northeastern blackout in August 2003 have soured policy-makers, consumers and even some power companies on electric utility competition.As a result, Arkansas, California, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico and Oklahoma have changed course and abandoned or indefinitely delayed deregulation. Oregon has limited electricity competition to large industrial customers, and pressure is rising in both Illinois and Michigan to pull back from utility restructuring. Consumers in many states also are bracing for rate hikes in coming years as price caps -- enacted to protect them during the early phases of deregulation -- expire."Nobody's benefited from deregulation – period, end of story," said Charles Acquard, executive director of the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates.