Although it has been
nearly four months since Hurricane Sandy struck the East Coast, the after
affects are still being felt. One of those after effects includes a rate hike
for electric services, something citizens and public officials both object to.
Jersey Central Power & Light announced that it plans to
implement a 4.5 percent rate increase in order to make up for the lost revenue
from the power restoration from Hurricane Sandy. The rate increase would amount
to approximately $53 more per year for the average customer using 650 kilowatt
hours per month.[1]
New Jersey public officials object to the rate increase,
saying that the restoration of power for many residents was unacceptably slow. Several
New Jersey Mayors plan on filing an official objection with the state Board of
Public Utilities. According to Mayor Bettina Bieri, Mayor of West Milford, “To
get a rate hike while we see no improvement to their service … we feel that’s
just a slap in the face to ratepayers.”
Of the 2 million New Jersey residents left without power,
approximately 1.1 million are customers of Jersey Central Power & Light. Full
electrical power wasn’t restored to the state until the end of November 2012,
nearly one month after the storm made landfall.
New Jersey residents who were deprived of power had to
improvise methods of keeping warm and fed. Some residents had to heat food on
their back yard barbeques, while others had to walk to obliging homes whose
power had been restored to shower and charge their cellular phones. Babies that were not accustomed to sleeping
under blankets had to sleep wearing layers and layers of pajamas. One resident
reported using her car battery to charge her cellular phone.[2]
Jersey Central Power & Light reportedly replaced 6,700
utility poles and cut down 65,000 trees, more than twice the typical amount
replaced on an annual basis. Additionally, the rate hike is meant to cover the
expenses for the salaries and room and board for of all of the additional
workers brought in from across the country.
The utility company also announced its plans to use $200
million to reinforce and expand the infrastructure.
JCP & L currently has the lowest residential rates of
all four power companies operating in New Jersey. Nevertheless, in the
post-hurricane economic climate, many residents will find the rate increase difficult
to bear.
[1]
Ensslin, John, C: JCP&L Rate-Hike Angers North Jersey Mayors NorthJersey.com 2/23/2013 http://www.northjersey.com/news/JCPLratehike.html?page=all
[2]
Gross, Doug; Le Trent, Sarah: Powerless in New Jersey Post Sandy 11/3/2013 CNN http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/02/living/sandy-new-jersey-color
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