NEW JERSEY – Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) will offer summer bill credits, suspend shut-offs and expand payment options to help customers manage rising electricity costs, the utility announced this week.
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities approved the measures, which aim to ease the impact of supply price increases that have driven up the average residential electric bill by 19.6%.
“While JCP&L doesn’t control electricity supply prices, we are committed to helping customers manage increases through new and expanded assistance programs,” said Doug Mokoid, FirstEnergy’s president of New Jersey operations.
JCP&L will apply a $30 deferral credit on all residential bills in July and August. The credit will be recovered through a $10 monthly charge from September through February, when electricity use typically drops.
Other approved measures include suspending service shut-offs in July, August and September for vulnerable customers under Winter Termination Program criteria, waiving reconnection fees from July 1 through Sept. 30, and offering enhanced payment plans allowing customers to spread past-due balances over 24 months rather than 12.
Customers can also access year-round assistance programs, energy efficiency tools and cost-saving tips at FirstEnergy’s website.
The utility noted that rising demand and power plant retirements have contributed to higher supply prices, which make up nearly 60% of a typical customer’s bill. JCP&L passes supply charges to customers without markup.
