Lakewood’s Legislators of the 30th District, and Committeeman Menashe Miller, want the Board of Public Utilities to hold a hearing in Lakewood before agreeing to any sort of rate hike the Jersey Central power and Light company recently petitioned for.
In a letter issued to the Commissioner of the NJ Board of Utilities Jeanne M. Fox, Senator Singer and his Assemblyman wrote that Lakewood constituents should have a say in the matter.
“It has come to our attention that Jersey Central Power and Light is petitioning for a rate increase”, the letter read. “We are requesting this hearing be held in Lakewood, New Jersey, thereby allowing our Municipalities as well as our constituency an opportunity to participate in the process.”
In December, then Mayor Miller penned a similar letter.
“We are home to 93,000 residents, and this would give our residents a chance to voice their concerns”, Miller wrote the Commissioner.
The energy company requested a 1.4% rate hike, which the company said would offset the costs of improving infrastructure damaged by last year’s Tropical Storm Irene and October snowstorm.
Shmuel Binder, the Vice Chairman of the LUAC, is the one who urged the Legislators and then Menashe Miller to get involved.
“When I saw that they filed for another increase, I said I have to get on top of it”, Binder says.
A separate increase for damages caused by Hurricane Sandy, estimated by the company at over $500 million, is expected to be filed at a later date.
CLICK HERE FOR THE LETTER FROM SINGER, RIBLE AND KEAN.
CLICK HERE FOR THE LETTER FROM MENASHE MILLER. TLS.
I dont understand , they are running a business and turning a profit. Why is it on our shoulders to pony up money for repairs? If I have a business and I incur damage or a loss etc I cant go charging $25 more for a pie of pizza because I need to make up for damage from a storm etc. Can someone please explain
It is a business and in this case the stock holders should foot the bill, NOT the rate payers. The stock holders get the benefits in good times now its time to take the loss in the bad times. Then the stock holders can hold JCP&L management accountable. If the BPU gives hem a rae increase then management will never be held accountable.
I think they should be looking for a rate decrease not increase.
It’s amazing how these utility companies work. Why on earth should I pay because they had a rough year?
The price of natural Gas that powers many of the Electric Power Plants has actually decreased. They should be decreasing their rates, not raising them