TOMORROW: AARP To Deliver 23K Postcard Petitions To BPU & Governor Murphy Regarding $12 Billion In Rate Hikes 

Tomorrow, Wednesday, March 13, 2019 AARP Advocacy Volunteer, Utility Watchdogs and allies are holding a press conference outside the Trenton State House to announce the delivery of 23,000 postcard petitions to the NJ Board of Public Utilities and Governor Phil Murphy.  Participants will call on Murphy and the BPU to ensure utility rates are affordable.

WHAT:           AARP member delivery of 23,000 postcard petitions calling for affordable utility rates

WHEN:          Wednesday, March 13, 2019 at 12:15 pm

WHERE:        Steps of the State House Annex, Trenton, NJ

WHO:             Evelyn Liebman, AARP New Jersey

Doug O’Malley, Environment New Jersey

Tony Sandkamp, NJ Main Street Alliance

Renee Koubiadis, Anti-Poverty Network of New Jersey

Jeff Tittel, Sierra Club New Jersey

Dave Pringle, Clean Water Action

“New Jersey families are strapped with some of America’s highest utility costs – paying, on average, hundreds of dollars a month for the utility services we all need for basic health and safety,” said Evelyn Liebman, AARP NJ Director of Advocacy. “These consumers -particularly those living on low and fixed incomes – simply can’t afford to foot this $12 billion rate hike.  These 23,000 residents want Governor Murphy and the BPU to put consumers first and ensure that utility prices are affordable, fair and reasonable.”

Right now, utility corporations – and some elected representatives – are proposing at least $12 billion in measures that will drive up costs for consumers. Here are some of the costs for which New Jerseyans could foot the bill:

• $6.6 BILLION MORE for PSE&G’s proposed rate hike
• $900 MILLION MORE for a “nuclear tax” that would be charged to every electric customer in New Jersey
• $387 MILLION MORE for JCP&L’s proposed rate hike
• $460 MILLION MORE for ACE’s proposed rate hike;
• $1 BILLION MORE for proposed legislation (S2252) that would require ratepayers to subsidize the electric vehicle market
• $2.5 BILLION MORE for costs associated with a new clean energy law
• $500 MILLION MORE for Elizabethtown Gas’ proposed rate hike

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