Garden State Times

Senator Carmen Amato and Assemblymen Brian Rumpf and Greg Myhre have submitted written testimony to the Board of Public Utilities (BPU), urging officials to reject a petition filed by New Jersey Natural Gas that would increase heating bills by 24% for utility customers. Virtual hearings on the rate increase are scheduled for June 27.

"Senior citizens as well as low-middle and fixed-income residents comprise a considerable segment of our constituency and represent those most at risk of the prospect of losing their housing due simply to an inability to pay such an exorbitant rate increase for a single utility service," said the Delegation in their submitted testimony to BPU President Christine Guhl-Sadovy.

The Delegation initially sent a letter calling on the BPU Commissioner to reject the petition filed by New Jersey Natural Gas in February.

The full text of their most recent letter can be read below:

Dear President Guhl-Sadovy:

This outreach concerns virtual public hearings which are to be held with respect to the petition filed by New Jersey Natural Gas seeking approval for a 24 percent rate increase.

Attached is testimony submitted for entry into the official public record of testimony which conveys, in no uncertain terms, our Delegation’s unalterable opposition to this completely unreasonable rate increase petition which undoubtedly will have profoundly negative financial hardships for ordinary residents. As stated in our testimony, senior citizens as well as low-middle and fixed-income residents comprise a considerable segment of our constituency and represent those most at risk of the prospect of losing their housing due simply to an inability to pay such an exorbitant rate increase for a single utility service.

Moving forward, we urge the Board in the strongest terms to reject the rate increase petition submitted by New Jersey Natural Gas. Thank you, in advance, for your attention to this urgent communication sent in representing the people of the 9th Legislative District.

Sincerely,

Carmen F. Amato, Jr.

Brian E. Rumpf

Gregory E. Myhre