HOLMDEL, N.J. — A recent state energy plan has resulted in electricity rate increases of up to 20% in New Jersey, primarily due to challenges associated with Governor Phil Murphy’s clean energy initiatives. In light of these developments, Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) is taking proactive measures to support customers this summer, including the provision of financial assistance and ensuring continuity of service. Effective July, JCP&L will implement customer assistance programs aimed at alleviating the impact of rising electricity supply costs, with the approval of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. Residential electric bills for July and August will receive a $30 deferral credit, which will be repaid over six months—from September to February—through a $10 monthly charge during periods of lower consumption.
Doug Mokoid, President of FirstEnergy New Jersey, stated, “Electricity supply costs, which constitute nearly 60% of a family’s bill in our service territory, have significantly increased this summer. While we do not have control over supply prices, we are dedicated to assisting our customers in managing these increases through new and expanded assistance initiatives.”
Further assistance measures include a temporary suspension of service disconnections for qualifying customers during the months of July, August, and September, the waiver of reconnection fees from July 1 to September 30, and expanded payment plans that allow customers to distribute their outstanding balances over a 24-month period, rather than the previous 12-month limit. JCP&L also continues to offer a variety of year-round support programs, including energy efficiency rebates, home energy audits, and bill assistance for income-eligible and medically vulnerable customers. Additional information and application portals are available at firstenergycorp.com/bill assist and energysavenj.com.
The increase in electricity supply costs has arisen from a combination of heightened demand and reduced generation capacity due to the retirement of power plants. As a result, Basic Generation Service (BGS) rates for customers without a selected supplier have risen, leading to an average increase of 19.6% in residential bills. It is important to note that JCP&L, which solely delivers electricity, passes supplier charges to customers without markup. The utility serves approximately 1.1 million customers across 13 counties in New Jersey, including Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, and Morris. JCP&L customers can anticipate the $30 summer credits and enhanced payment options as they navigate nearly 20% higher electricity bills stemming from statewide supply cost increases.