Many NJ utility customers way behind on bills. Pressure to suspend rate increases
With hundreds of thousands of customers, including up to 90% of commercial users, falling far behind in paying utility bills, New Jersey is looking at how, if even possible, consumers and small businesses will pay back accounts that were more than $442 million in arrears as of mid-October.
The proceeding, initiated by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU), is so complex that the Division of Rate Counsel and consumer advocates have urged the agency to suspend new rate increases by utilities until after the public health emergency created by the COVID-19 pandemic ends.
The pandemic has led to a surge in unemployment, a huge downturn in the economy, and left parts of the public struggling to balance where to spend dwindling household income: on putting food on the table for families, avoiding eviction, or paying utility bills.
At this point, there is some consensus even among some utilities that a one-time COVID-19 arrearage forgiveness program is needed to address the scope of the problem, although where the money to fund such efforts will come from is hardly resolved.
Read more: https://www.njspotlight.com/2020/12/many-nj-customers-way-behind-on-utility-bills-pressure-to-suspend-rate-increases/
