fbpx

Casagrande, Handlin: “1000 times no to JCP&L rate increase”

Assemblywoman Amy Handlin

Assemblywoman Amy Handlin

Public hearings for JCP&L’s proposed rate increase started yesterday in Toms River.  The Monmouth County hearing is on April 24 at the Freehold Township Municipal Building.

Assemblywomen Caroline Casagrande (R-11) and Amy Handlin (R-13) have already gathered 1300 constituent signatures on a petition opposing the JCP&L rate increase.  The petition will be submitted to the Board of the Public Utilities at the Freehold hearing.

“Our constituents are tired of over promises and underperformances by  their electric company and we’re going to make sure their voices are heard until  JCP&L pulls the plug on this rate hike,” Handlin, R-Monmouth, said.  “JCP&L’s customers have already paid the price by suffering through  prolonged outages, so our response to their request is a simple and firm,  ‘No.’”

Handlin and Casagrande noted their constituent’s outrage with JCP&L’s poor performance in restoring  power and keeping families, businesses and communities informed during prolonged  outages – most notably Hurricanes Sandy and Irene. The petition also notes the  allegation by the N.J. Division of Rate Counsel that the utility is earning too much profit from New Jersey ratepayers to send  back to its parent company in Ohio.

Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande

Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande

“We can say it once, or we can say it a thousand times, the answer is  still, ‘No,’” Casagrande, R-Monmouth, said. “Losing power for extended periods  of time is a very difficult and costly burden for families and businesses. We  have had more than our share of severe outages because JCP&L refused to  invest its corporate profits to update its infrastructure and keep the power on  in our communities.”

The petition can be signed online here.

 

Posted: April 9th, 2013 | Author: | Filed under: Amy Handlin, Caroline Casagrande, Hurricane Irene, Hurricane Sandy, JCP&L, Monmouth County | Tags: , , , , , | 9 Comments »

“You’re Not A Priority”

Joan (not her real name) from Freehold Township just called. She lives in the 55 and over Riviera development in Freehold Township.

Joan says that half of the development is still without power.  She called JCP&L as was told, “You’re not a priority.”  I don’t think that is what BPU President Lee Solomon had in mind when he advised JCP&L to have their people “tell the truth.”

Joan has evacuated to her son’s home in Camden County.  Yet she is worried for her neighbors and friends, many of whom are invalids she says.  “People are really suffering, their lives and health are at risk.  Who can I call?”

I suggested calling the Freehold Township Police. “They’re too busy.  We called for a man that needed medical attention and they said to take him to the emergency room.  We called an ambulance and it never came.”

“Christie said on 101.5 to contact his office for anything, do you have his number?”  I gave it to her.

Joan, who moved her from New York, says she has frequent power outages since she moved to Riviera.  “JCP&L said they were aware of the problem, but nothing has improved.  Their equipment is too old.”

Joan’s experience too common in the JCP&L service area.  Her immediate emergency as well as her long term experience. 

Power outages are an expected occurance in the JCP&L service areas.  In the 17 years I have lived in a JCP&L service area I chalked it up to living on the ocean or or atop of a hill. 

That is obviously not the case.  Atlantic City Electric has only 92 active outages effecting only 148 customers.

JCP&L’s management and lack of infrastructure investment is the problem.

Posted: September 1st, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: Hurricane Irene | Tags: , , , | 2 Comments »
Newer Entries »