KARROW LEGISLATION PERMITTING EQUAL ACCESS FOR ALL BUSINESSES TO BPU SURCHARGE FUND PASSES ASSEMBLY

KARROW LEGISLATION PERMITTING EQUAL ACCESS FOR ALL BUSINESSES TO BPU SURCHARGE FUND PASSES ASSEMBLY A-843 RECEIVES UNANIMOUS  SUPPORT 

The General Assembly today unanimously approved legislation that will permit businesses throughout the state the opportunity to apply for and receive funding from the Board of Public Utilities’ Societal Benefits Charge (SBC) levied upon all electric and gas utility customers. The bill, A-843, was sponsored by Assemblywoman Marcia Karrow

(R – Hunterdon and Warren).  The SBC was established in 1999 as part of the “Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act” that authorized the BPU to impose the surcharge in order to recover costs associated with socially beneficial programs such as low income customer assistance and consumer protection.

Anyone who pays into SBC should be able to tap into it to receive grants for programs such as solar energy. However, former Governor Jim McGreevey signed an Executive Order on his first day in office which prohibits anyone who builds in a designated “no growth” area from receiving such grants in areas such as the Highlands and Pinelands.

“Today’s vote is another step in the process of encouraging and assisting all businesses in New Jersey by giving them an equal opportunity to access an account controlled by the BPU,” stated Karrow.  “The BPU must now open the process and give all qualified companies the chance to make their business more environmentally friendly and efficient while at the same time reduce their business costs.  The system currently in place is too restrictive, and given the uncertain conditions under which many companies are operating, we need to do all we can to help them.”

“McGreevey’s Executive Order is ridiculous,” stated Karrow.  “These are exactly the places where we most want to reduce the carbon footprint – in our pristine open spaces where the water supply is critical to the entire state.  Ironically, McGreevey’s ban prohibiting infrastructure grants into environmentally sensitive ‘no growth’ areas also applies to BPU grants that create a cleaner environment.”

he SBC generates approximately $450 million annually, and according to Karrow, can cost some companies hundreds of thousands of dollars without the chance to recoup any of the funds because they are not located in a smart growth area, limiting their chance to achieve energy efficiencies.  Earlier this month, the Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee had given the bill its unanimous support.

“Much time has been spent in trying to develop a long-term energy plan in New Jersey,” continued Karrow.  “Another benefit of opening up accessibility to the SBC is that businesses can research, develop, and implement an energy-efficient plan and contribute to the state’s goal of having 20% of its energy derived from renewable sources. That represents a win for everyone, regardless of where in the state one is located.”

######