The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (“Board”) yesterday voted unanimously to order Jersey Central Power & Light (“JCP&L”) to file a base rate case in response to a request from the New Jersey Division of the Rate Counsel. The rate case will require JCP&L to justify its earnings and address concerns regarding the company’s performance since 2005, the date of its last rate case.
“Today’s action by the Board requires JCP&L to make a base rate filing which will allow the Board, Rate Counsel and other interested parties to evaluate whether the Company is providing safe, adequate and proper service at just and reasonable rates,” said N.J. Board of Public Utilities President Bob Hanna.
The New Jersey Division of the Rate Counsel petitioned the Board to require JCP&L to file a base rate case, raising concerns that JCP&L is earning an unreasonable rate of return for electric services while emphasizing that six years has elapsed since JCP&L last received Board rate approval.
In the petition, Rate Counsel argues that, without a base rate case, JCP&L customers have not had the opportunity to review the company’s revenues and expenses to ensure that JCP&L is making the necessary capital improvements required to provide safe, adequate, and reliable utility service. In contrast, claims Rate Counsel, all of the State’s other major electric, gas, and water public utilities were subject to such a review through a base rate case within the last two years.
In addition, Rate Counsel raises service reliability issues related to JCP&L’s performance during Hurricane Irene in August 2011 and the subsequent October 2011 snow storm, including concerns that the company is not investing a sufficient amount in its utility infrastructure. Similar concerns were raised during public hearings held by the Board to investigate the utility’s response to Hurricane Irene and during an investigation of JCP&L’s infrastructure after underground fires and explosions occurred in Morristown, NJ. 2
JCP&L responded that Rate Counsel’s petition contains several significant errors and inaccuracies, and improperly focuses on the overall rate of return rather than the return on equity. JCP&L also argues that its current return on equity is consistent with the financial community’s expectations for similar utilities.
After consideration of the arguments and evidence presented, the Board determined that it was appropriate to direct JCP&L to file a base rate case to allow for a full review of this matter. The Board is expected to issue a schedule for the proceeding in the near future. TLS.
what about American Water they are a million times worse
Stick to the issue. When NJ American is on the news you whine “what about JCP&L, they are a million times worse”.
Now its JCP&L so you whine about NJAWCO…..
Could we get the same with NJAW? or do they have inside connections with the BPU to cover things up?
American Water must be addressed as well. If they charged me for an extra month every year it would be four times less that the bogus extra charges I get throughout the year.
This is only because of the troubles the Township themselves experienced with JCPL. Please Mayor Miller make believe the town had trouble with American Water.
Jcp ain’t so bad, its the German company NJAW that needs to b investigated
water water every where and you cant drink it, but you pay a lot for it
to #6
NJAW is an American company, RWE Group (a German utility company) divested it’s ownership in 2008 in an IPO on the NYSE. It’s a subsidiary of American Water which is headquartered in Voorhees, NJ and operates in 19 states.
Stand-by everyone when JCP&L gets done with the BPU we are going to see such a rate increase we will never be able to afford! And the BPU will tell us that it is because has not filed for an increase in 7 years and are due for a hefty rate increase to make up for it…..