Trenton, New Jersey. Concerned about the possible effects on citizens who are already struggling financially, lawmakers from New Jersey’s 9th Legislative District are urging the state Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to reject Atlantic City Electric’s planned 8% rate hike.
The utility’s request, which would increase residential customers’ electricity rates by an average of $12.96 per month, was opposed by State Senator Carmen Amato, Jr., Assemblyman Brian Rumpf, and Assemblyman Gregory Myhre in a letter to BPU President Christine Guhl-Sadovy. They contended that the hike would make things worse for seniors, families, and other people on fixed incomes who are already having a hard time making ends meet.
According to the letter, an excessive number of consumers are already unable to pay their electricity payments. An 8% rate rise will only strain the finances of more ratepayers, disproportionately affecting those on fixed or retired incomes who are finding it difficult to stay in their current homes.
Recently, Atlantic City Electric submitted a request for a rate adjustment to the BPU, citing increased operational expenses and grid reliability investments as support. Legislators and advocacy organizations worried about affordability for low- and middle-income households have criticized prior rate hikes, which the planned increase follows.
The senators emphasized that recent rate hikes have already had a significant negative impact on their constituents in southern New Jersey and urged the BPU to reject the utility’s proposal altogether. They urged the BPU to put ratepayers’ needs first and characterized the proposed increase as an unwarranted burden on locals.
The idea has drawn increasing resistance from local advocates and elected officials around the region, and the BPU has not yet made a final decision on it.
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