Latest news with #WinterTerminationProgram
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
PSE&G Proposes New Solutions To Help Customers Dealing With Upcoming Energy Price Increases
PSE&G files updated proposal to offer additional short-term assistance, while standing ready for long-term solutions NEWARK, N.J., May 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- PSE&G today announced that it is amending its May 7, 2025 filing with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to provide additional short-term relief for mitigating the impact of recent significant increases in electric supply costs caused by PJM's high capacity market prices. In the filing, PSE&G is responding to requests for temporary solutions from Gov. Phil Murphy issued in a press release yesterday, in addition to a one-time waiver of carrying costs for credits that might be issued this summer, pending BPU action. "As Gov. Murphy said yesterday in his press release, utilities are not the cause of the unexpected rise in utility rates, but we have a role to play in providing options to assist our customers," said Kim Hanemann, president and COO, PSE&G. "PSE&G works closely with our customers and communities to help ensure they have access to programs that fit their needs to manage their bills. We will continue to work with policymakers on short-term solutions to assist our customers while working with the state on long-term solutions, including the need for more generation." For decades, PSE&G has worked with customers, and with nonprofits and community organizations who work with utility customers, to raise awareness, educate and inform customers about energy assistance options. In recent years, PSE&G has participated in hundreds of events across the state and communicated directly to customers through the mail and online about the programs and support available to help manage bills. Short-term solutions filed with the BPUIn response to requests made in Gov. Phil Murphy's May 14 press release, and as they relate to the May 7 BPU filings he noted in his press release, PSE&G requests the BPU approve: The implementation of an expansion of the Winter Termination Program, which provides utility shut-off protection to low-income and vulnerable individuals. The suspension of reconnection fees. The voluntary removal of its carrying charges for a temporary credit beginning on July 1, 2025 to offset the electric bill increases that will occur this summer. Carrying charges are the cost that the company will incur when delaying collection of the supply cost increase PSE&G pays to the suppliers. PSE&G is proud of its track record of maintaining customer affordability and award-winning reliable service. PSE&G bills are nearly equivalent to 2008 levels when adjusted for inflation. PSE&G works hard to keep customer bills as low as possible and this has resulted in PSE&G being a top performer nationally in affordability. May 7 filing with the BPU In compliance with the BPU's order dated April 23, 2025, PSE&G's May 7 filing describes options for the creation of a Temporary Supply Offset Clause ("TSOC"), a temporary credit beginning on July 1, 2025 to offset the electric bill increases that will occur this summer, bill increases that largely stem from the July 2024 PJM Base Residual Auction. As indicated in the May 7 filing, the three options included a 100% offsetting credit, a 50% offsetting credit and a 25% offsetting credit, which were based on guidance from BPU Staff. Long-term solutions needed While PSE&G has been warning for several years about the supply and demand imbalance in the PJM region, we remain committed to working with stakeholders in government regarding long-term solutions to these significant rate increases, including policy and legal changes to encourage the development of new generation. PSE&G customer assistance PSE&G works directly with its customers, and with nonprofits and community organizations who work with utility customers, to inform them about energy assistance options. These efforts are designed to provide access to information on a range of energy efficiency and affordability offerings – from rebates and discounts to programs for small businesses and corporations. PSE&G's energy efficiency programs provide free assessments to help make customer's homes or businesses more efficient, and lower energy use year-round. As of this past February, over 415,000 customers benefitted from programs that reduced energy consumption and lowered bills. On an annual basis, participants saved nearly $640 million. Last year, PSE&G made improvements to better identify and reach customers who are most likely eligible for energy assistance programs and affordability options. In the end, approximately 226,000 customers received more than $265 million in support and assistance from these and other outreach initiatives. We estimate that another 100,000 customers are eligible for these programs but have yet to reach out. PSE&G provides information regarding affordability options that customers may qualify for based on certain criteria like income eligibility (i.e. the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), or SHARES for customers who may be experiencing a temporary financial crisis). There are also additional bill payment tools to help customers manage costs, including PSE&G's Equal Payment Plan and Deferred Payment Arrangements. PSE&G's Equal Payment Plan estimates annual energy costs, and divides bills into 12 equal monthly payments, which allows customers to levelize their monthly spend expectations. Deferred Payment Arrangements allow customers to pay a portion of past-due balances over an agreed-upon period. PSE&G is promoting affordability and bill management programs in person through its customer service centers and call center, while also educating customers through a multichannel communication that includes bilingual emails, social media, newsletters, bill inserts, direct mail, media interviews and webinars and events with our community partners. Customers can also find valuable energy assistance information at and PSE&GPublic Service Electric & Gas Co. is New Jersey's oldest and largest gas and electric delivery public utility, as well as one of the nation's largest utilities. PSE&G has won the ReliabilityOne® Award for superior electric system reliability in the Mid-Atlantic region for 23 consecutive years. For the third consecutive year, PSE&G is the recipient of the ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year award in the Energy Efficiency Program Delivery category. In addition, in 2024 J.D. Power named PSE&G number one in customer satisfaction with residential electric service and gas service in the east among large utilities. PSE&G is a subsidiary of Public Service Enterprise Group Inc., (PSEG) (NYSE:PEG), a predominantly regulated infrastructure company focused on a clean energy future and has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for North America for 17 consecutive years ( Forward-Looking StatementsThis release includes forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements regarding anticipated or expected energy savings, cost saving and greenhouse gas emissions avoidance. There can be no assurance that such energy and costs savings and greenhouse gas emissions avoidance will be realized in the amounts described and / or in the timeframes anticipated. Such statements are based on management's beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to management but are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. Factors that may cause actual results to differ include, without limitation: the ability to implement our energy efficiency business strategy, and customer adoption of our energy efficiency offerings. All forward-looking statements made in this release are qualified by these cautionary statements and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements The forward-looking statements contained in this Report are intended to qualify for the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Visit PSEG at: PSEG on Facebook PSEG on Twitter PSEG on LinkedIn CONTACT:Media RelationsMarijke View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Public Service Electric & Gas Company (PSE&G) Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NJ Governor Murphy proposes solutions to rising utility costs
TRENTON, N.J. – AJ Shah and his son, Eric, own an engineering business in Bridgewater. With a little more than two weeks to go until a statewide utility rate hike, they say they have little to do. 'I don't have a choice,' said AJ Shah. 'I'm not cutting down, so I'm just going to pay more, that's it. I'm going to cut somewhere, so of course I'm going to cut money somewhere else but that's one I don't have control.' More Local News 'Not good, right?' said Eric Shah. 'It's already been going up, I'd rather have it back down or back the way it was years ago.' On Wednesday, Governor Phil Murphy announced a suite of executive actions to address electricity prices. Per his Administration, he is urging New Jersey's electric utilities to: Voluntarily expand the Winter Termination Program, which prevents service disconnections in the winter months, to July-September, which JCP&L included in their filing, and; Suspend reconnection fees to a certain date past the summer peak usage months. Other actions include: Directing the NJBPU to evaluate all available funding and programming to stabilize utility bills, Directing the NJBPU to expedite opening another Competitive Solar Incentive Program Solicitation and Community Solar Energy Program Capacity Block by the end of 2025. Directing the NJBPU to open a new proceeding on resource adequacy. Within this proceeding, BPU will: Evaluate proposals to swiftly bring more generation online. Continue to determine how New Jersey can best achieve its reliability, equity, and clean energy objectives while keeping costs to consumers as low as possible, and whether New Jersey best serves the regional capacity market administered by PJM Interconnection. Identify policy opportunities to mitigate increased ratepayer costs due to demand growth driven by data center proliferation in the PJM region. 'While the utilities are not responsible for the rate increases, they have a responsibility to protect ratepayers,' Murphy said in a statement. 'It's clear that New Jersey's four hometown electric utilities need to deliver more reasonable options. We ask that utilities share the load and commit to being part of the solution to the PJM cost crisis. These utilities have reaped billions in profits over the last ten years. My administration will continue to identify and put all options on the table to mitigate rate increases.' In response to Murphy, Atlantic City Electric, which covers much of Southern New Jersey, told PIX11 News a statement: 'We share Governor Murphy's affordability concerns as we head into the summer months. While utility companies in New Jersey do not generate their own energy, do not set the price of electricity, and do not profit from these increases, we fully understand that rising energy costs stemming from PJM's 2024 Capacity Auction are a challenge for our customers. That is why our plan submitted to the BPU last week included deferring costs past the summer months to help soften the impact. Atlantic City Electric is currently reviewing the governor's announcement, but we remain committed to working together with Governor Murphy, the BPU, other utilities, PJM, generators, and customers, to be part of a path forward that supports the area's growing energy needs and manages bill impacts, while continuing to provide safe, reliable and resilient energy to our customers. Meanwhile, we will continue to offer a comprehensive energy efficiency program, rebates for energy efficient HVAC equipment and appliances, discounted energy saving products, flexible payment arrangements, and an Assistance Finder tool to help qualifying customers access various local, state, and federal energy assistance programs.' More Local News PIX11 also received a statement from Rockland Electric Company, which serves parts of Bergen, Passaic and Sussex Counies: 'As we approach the summer months, Rockland Electric Company is committed to working with the BPU to keep bills affordable for our customers in northern New Jersey,' said Michele O'Connell, Rockland Electric Company president and CEO. 'We work with all our customers, connecting them to various programs designed to help them lower the costs of their bills and become more energy efficient.' JCP&L spokesman Chris Hoenig told PIX11 News: 'JCP&L understands the concerns that many New Jersey families are facing due to increasing rates from electric suppliers. While it is not JCP&L's delivery rates that are rising, we include and collect these charges on the monthly electric bills, and we are committed to assisting our customers through this time. In fact, JCP&L proposed the expansion of the winter shutoff moratorium to incorporate peak summer use months in our recent filing to the Board of Public Utilities. We encourage our customers to reach out to us if they are having trouble paying their bill, so that we can connect them with available assistance or payment plans. Our energy assistance outreach teams will continue to get out into the communities we serve. We also encourage our customers to utilize our energy efficiency programs, which consist of programs that offer easy to implement tips as well as large-scale, whole home offerings, giving customers the power to take control over their energy use.' Anthony D'Aniello, owner of Manville Pizza, says energy is his biggest monthly expense. He shays he wouldn't be surprised if businesses like his, at some point, end up passing the cost onto the customer. 'We can only absorb it so much as a retailer,' said D'Aniello. 'You guys are going to see it something as simple as pizza as well.' Rates are set to go up on June 1st. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Have overdue utilities bills? NJ shutoff protection turned off March 15
Passaic Valley Water Commission will begin shutting off delinquent water accounts on Monday, two days after the end of the state's moratorium on utility shutoff. Any account with an overdue balance faces possible shutoff on Monday, said Passaic Valley Water Commission, a public drinking water supplier owned by Paterson, Clifton and Passaic and serving customers in those cities. This also goes for any other utility overdue bill. Utility companies, including electric, gas and water, are prevented from shutting down services from Nov. 15 through March 15 as part of the Winter Termination Program. The program prohibits the shutoff of services to residential customers for non-payment, however, that protection expired on Saturday. As part of the termination program, utilities may only shut off from Monday through Thursday, to allow customers to pay and have them turned back on before the weekend. Passaic Valley Water Commission's payment window is located at 1525 Main Ave., in Clifton and is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. Cash, checks, money orders or credit cards will be accepted. To pay by phone via an automated system call 973-340-4300. A customer service representative will only be available during business hours. There is also an online payment option at or mail checks or money orders to: Passaic Valley Water Commission, 1525 Main Avenue, Clifton, NJ 07011. The water company also offers no-interest payment plans. Call customer service at 973-340-4300 for more information. State residents who need help with utilities may visit or call the state Department of Community Affairs assistance program at 973-340-4300. This article originally appeared on Have overdue utilities bills? NJ shutoff protection turns off March 15
