HOLMDEL – Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) has received state approval to launch new measures aimed at helping customers manage rising electricity supply costs during the summer months.
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities approved the utility’s plan, which includes bill credits, payment flexibility, and a temporary pause on service shut-offs. Electricity supply prices, which make up nearly 60% of a residential bill in JCP&L’s service area, have jumped significantly, prompting concerns about affordability as demand climbs with summer heat.
“While we don’t control supply prices, we are committed to helping customers manage these increases through new and expanded assistance programs,” said Doug Mokoid, FirstEnergy’s president of New Jersey operations.
To ease the financial strain, all residential customers will automatically receive a $30 bill credit in July and August. The credit will be recouped through a $10 monthly charge from September through February, when energy use typically declines.
Other approved relief measures include:
- A temporary suspension of service shut-offs from July through September for eligible customers, mirroring the protections of the Winter Termination Program.
- Waived reconnection fees between July 1 and Sept. 30.
- Extended payment plans that allow past-due balances to be spread over 24 months instead of the usual 12.
These efforts build upon JCP&L’s year-round customer support options, including bill assistance programs for low-income households and those with medical needs, as well as rebates and tools to improve energy efficiency.
Rising supply costs are driven by higher demand and reduced power plant availability, resulting in a 19.6% increase in the Basic Generation Service (BGS) rate. JCP&L, which serves 1.1 million customers in 13 counties, passes these supplier costs to customers without markup.
More information on assistance and energy-saving tools can be found at
firstenergycorp.com/billassist
and
energysavenj.com
.
