State OKs eclectic bills climbing 17% to 20%
Demand growth, short supply cited as reason
By: David P. Willis
Asbury Park Press
USA Today Network - New Jersey
..... Get reedy, New Jersey. You're going to feel a proverbial electric shock when you crack open your electric bill this summer, [2025] judging by the results of the state's annual wholesale electricity auction.
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Monthly electric bills will see increases that range for 17% for PSE&G customers to a 20% increase for Jersey Central Power & Light customers, the BPU said.
..... "As expected, we are seeing higher results," said Christine Guhl-Sadovy, president of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities.
..... The auction, run by the BPU, sets the wholesale electricity prices that four electricity utilities will pay and pas thorough to all New Jersey residential customers and small businesses who have not chosen a third-party electric supplier. The new prices take effect on June 1. [2025]
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Here are the increases for the state's four electric utilities, assuming an average use of 650 kilowatts a month"
* Jersey Central Power & Light bills will go up by $22.67, or 20.2% , to $134.92.
* PSE&G bills will rise by $26.87, or 17.24%, reaching $182.71.
* Rockland Electric,, which serves the far northern portion of the state, will see an increase of $24.48, or 18.18% to $165.64.
* Atlantic City electric customs' bill will rise by $28.02, or 17.23%, to $190.62.
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The increase is attributed in part to "rapidly increasing demand for electricity, coupled with limited supply growth" in the region due to a backlog of electric generation projects that are waiting to be connected to PJM Interconnection, the regional electric transmission grid operator, Guhl-Sadovy said.
..... The state will "aggressively push and hold PJM accountable to address rising costs "by expediting the connection of new electric supplies to the grid and implementing market reforms drive down costs, he said.
..... The auction covers one third of the electric supply needed for the state's customers, mixing in with wholesale electric prices garnered by the auction in 2023 and 2024, to help lessen price volatility for customers.
..... "These increases are higher than what everyone wants to seem" Guhl-Sadovy told reporters at a press conference last week. [02/13/2025] "We will continue to do everything that we can do to keep our rates and costs low in the state of New Jersey. She said the state will work to provide energy assistance to customers struggling to pay their electric bills.
..... In a statement, Brian Lipman, director of the state Division of Rate Counsel, which is charged with advocating for utility customer, said the increases form the auction results are more than expected.
..... "Rate Counsel is deeply concerned about the outcome of the auction," Lipman said.
..... "The "insignificant increase in prices" will have a "substantial impact on New Jersey families and businesses, especially those least able to afford it."
..... Now regulators must carefully examine every utility request to raise rates "with an eye toward affordability," he said.
..... "With this large increase set to hit customers this summer, [2025] the state will need to reevaluate our priorities and ensure, first and foremost, that we are not exacerbating the problem by adding to already excessive rate increases," Lipman said. "We can no longer afford to simply hand out subsidies or build out our infrastructure without thought to the cost."