The increase in gas rates comes after some New Jersey taxpayers faced rising electric bills amid intense heat this summer. (Getty Images)
Some New Jersey residents will see their gas heating bills increase by nearly 16% under the new rates approved by the Board of Public Utilities.
The board approved rate increases Thursday for customers of Public Service Electric and Gas and Elizabethtown Gas Company, with those who purchase natural gas from PSE&G facing steeper increases.
“We are monitoring the increase in these rates, and we understand how they are significantly impacting ratepayers, and as far as possible we would encourage everyone for as many reasons – economic and environmental – to really cut back on their energy use wherever and whenever also. possible,” said Commissioner Zenon Christodoulou. “It is feasible.”
The increase in gas rates comes after some New Jersey taxpayers were affected rising electricity bills amid the intense heat this summer.
The average PSE&G customers who use 100 therms in a winter month can expect their bill to increase by $23.94. That would bring their monthly winter bill from $151.62 to $175.56, an increase of about 15.8%.
A taxpayer using 1,000 therms per year would see their annual bill increase by $241.40, according to BPU filings.
Elizabethtown Gas Company customers using the same amount of electricity will face a monthly increase of $9.43, which would increase average bills in the winter months by about 6.5%, from $145.83 to $155.26. A customer’s 1,000-therm bill over a 12-month period would increase by $96.30.
Administration officials lamented the increases but said they are needed to fund infrastructure upgrades to prevent gas leaks and other problems.
“Infrastructure requires upgrades And In order to do that, we need to review and look at these rates, and it is important that, especially for the gas system, these upgrades are done for safety reasons,” said Board of Directors Chairman Christine Guhl-Sadovy.
The board urged residents experiencing financial hardship to take advantage of the state’s relief programs.
New Jersey administers a range of utility assistance programs, either through the Board of Public Utilities or the Department of Community Affairs.
The Smart Utility Assistance Program provides residents who earn no more than the New Jersey median annual income per utility value of up to $500 to cover energy use, and energy aid subsidies Offer $700 grants to residents whose income does not exceed 400% of the federal poverty level.
The Lifeline Utility Assistance Program grants an annual benefit of $225 to eligible seniors.
Taxpayers who cannot pay their winter heating bills cannot have their electricity turned off in New Jersey between November 15 and March 15 as long as they participate in certain utility programs or experience financial hardship due to circumstances beyond their control, although they are still responsible for covering payment arrears outside the moratorium.
“I just want to say that we know it’s hard to keep the bill going up, and we want to make sure that there are programs available to help people pay their bills,” Guhl-Sadovy said.
Environmentalists say the increase underlines the need for more renewable energy.
“Clean energy will not only reduce costs by increasing energy supplies, but it will also help improve public health, create good local jobs, reduce air pollution, tackle climate change and make our country energy independent” , said Ed Potosnak, executive director of the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters. “Investing in renewables is not just about reducing emissions; it’s about ensuring affordable, stable energy for our communities.”
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