Wall Committee Readies Unfavorable JCP&L Resolutions
State's second largest utility company faces harsh criticism while asking for $31 million rate hike
The Township Committee at its next meeting is planning on coming in locked and loaded with local legislation targeting the state’s second largest utility company.
Three resolutions aimed at Jersey Central Power & Light’s response to Hurricane Sandy are being drafted and should be ready for a committee vote at its Dec. 12 meeting, officials said.
The first is an adapted version of a resolution being passed in numerous towns in Monmouth County. It outlines 10 suggestions to make JCP&L a more responsive company, culled from a meeting attended by officials from several Monmouth County towns and held in Tinton Falls on Nov. 19, according to Jeffry Bertrand, township administrator.
The second is the codification of a strongly worded open letter sent by Mayor Jeffrey Foster and the Township Committee, Bertrand said.
The letter called JCP&L’s response to the storm “atrocious’’ and suggested that the company institute a Incident Command System, similar to the training required of all volunteer firefighters.
“As elected officials, our patience and understanding has run out,’’ the letter says. “Just as with the previous storm events in 2010 and 2011, the response to Hurricane Sandy by JCP&L was atrocious.”
The third resolution in the works will call on the Board of Public Utilities, the state agency that regulates utility companies, to exercise stronger oversight, Bertrand said.
There were indications on Thursday that the BPU may do just that.
Bob Hanna, board president, on Thursday appeared at a state Senate Budget Committee hearing in Trenton that focused on New Jersey utility companies’ response to the November storms that darkened 2.7 million homes and businesses for up to 13 days, saying companies failed to effectively communicate with municipalities and customers, according to the Associated Press.
JCP&L amid widespread criticisms from towns all over New Jersey, some of which are considering dropping the utility company entirely, petitioned the BPU for a $31 million rate hike. If approved, the average JCP&L customer’s bill would rise about 1.4 percent overall.
The move has been met with staunch opposition.
State Sen. Peter J. O’Toole, R-Bergen, sent a letter to the BPU requesting an immediate denial of the rate increase.
“The state’s second-largest utility has no shame,” O’Toole said in a release. “Its parent company has raked in a $149 million increase in net income over last year, as the utility failed to adequately serve ratepayers in the aftermaths of Hurricane Irene and Sandy. Their application to suck more out of our residents’ pockets is utterly offensive.”
Scott
8:10 pm on Friday, December 7, 2012
JCP&L has a real set of brass! Until they update their equipment to the standards "we the people" are paying for, they should never get a rate hike. The public needs to hold they and the BPU accountable to make sure there is no rate hike until those goals are reached. And at the same time for our town that sub station needs to be moved to a higher location now!
Mickey Brewster
12:22 pm on Saturday, December 8, 2012
Scott, I heard they are NOT moving the substation, just rebuilding it on a 14ft base of concrete! I'm not happy with that if it's true. My mantra these days is "Move the GD Substation up the hill!" 5000 people were effected by it. Move it!
Scott
5:16 pm on Saturday, December 8, 2012
Thank you for letting me know that. Now is the time for the people of Wall Township to tell JCP&L that they will move it or they will no longer serve this community. Then bring in a company that will look out for the people instead of doing what they please. The Wall Township mayor needs to get involved big time here.
Matt
10:00 pm on Saturday, December 8, 2012
Can we go to a town meeting and start a petition or letter of intent to have the substation moved up the hill onto Watson Rd. We need to do this immediately! That substation powers a large number of homes, business's, the school, fire house, a very large area of town and needs to be built on higher ground now!
Scott
9:13 pm on Sunday, December 9, 2012
Well the town meeting might be the place to start. Might be a good idea if you know a lawyer if we need to petition the town, BPU, and or JCP&L.