Petition Drive Launched to Oppose JCP&L’s Rate Hike Request

When Superstorm Sandy blew through the Garden State it took out electricity to most New Jersey residents for an average of 3 to 10 days. However, over 1,000 Shore area residents aren't buying Jersey Central Power and Light's company line that the storm was unprecedented and they couldn't have prevented outages of that magnitude.

Opposition is growing to the JCP&L's proposal to the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to increase its rates to recover the millions of dollars it spent to repair storm damages.  Monmouth County Assemblywomen Amy Handlin and Caroline Casagrande has even launched a petition drive to call on the BPU to hold the line on an increase until a full examination is conducted on what JCP&L has spent on infrastructure upgrades in New Jersey verses the profits that its made over the years.

"We have very specific allegations from the New Jersey Rate Council that JCP&L has earned too much profit, according to Casagrande. In other words, they have been sending excess profits to their parent company in Ohio for about six years now instead of investing in the infrastructure of New Jersey."

Casagrande says they've collected 1,300 signatures so far and are hoping to collect more to present it to the BPU during a public hearing that will take place in Freehold on April 24th.

"So I would hope that the Board of Public Utilities does their job, represents the people, asks the hard questions, uses those brilliant forensic accountants and really takes some time to really protect the citizens of New Jersey from being just another ATM."

The petition can be signed at: www.tinyurl.com/norateincrease.

Assemblywoman Amy H. Handlin / 732-787-1170
Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande / 732-866-1695
Assembly Republican Press Office / 609-847-3400