New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
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The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) is a regulatory authority with a statutory mandate to ensure safe, adequate, and proper utility services at reasonable rates for customers in New Jersey. Accordingly, the NJBPU regulates critical services such as natural gas, electricity, water, and telecommunications and cable television. The Board addresses issues of consumer protection, energy reform, deregulation of energy and telecommunications services, and the restructuring of utility rates to encourage energy conservation and competitive pricing in the industry. The Board also has responsibility for monitoring utility service and responding to consumer complaints.
Established in 1911, the NJBPU was originally called the Department of Public Utilities. Its purpose was to provide essential services to New Jersey, which at the time included railroads and interstate commerce, as well as utility services. It independently addressed consumer complaints, performed audits, initiated investigations, approved rates and instituted fees, as well as appraised and valued the property of utilities. Throughout time and periodic reorganizations, the Department of Public Utilities became the Board of Public Utilities and moved from the Department of Environmental Protection and Energy to the Department of Treasury in 1994.
Traditional energy methods are still vital to New Jersey; however the state’s focus has changed to incorporate more green energy production. In 1999, The Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act (EDECA) was passed which established the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) requirements and the Societal Benefits Charge (SBC).
In March 2001, the BPU approved a $358 million spending plan for new energy efficiency and renewable energy programs over a three-year period. By the end of 2002, a report previously known as the Comprehensive Resource Analysis, was officially renamed the “Clean Energy Program.”
Today, New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program (NJCEP) is one of the strongest in the nation. It is a national leader in solar installations, carbon emissions reduction, and programs that benefit all New Jersey residents, helping them to reduce energy usage and save money.
Clean Energy Board Orders are located on the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities' website.
It is the goal of all parties involved in New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program (NJCEP) to conduct business in a professional manner, without giving rise to any complaints or disputes. However, it is reasonable to expect that as in any other business, disputes may arise.
Regardless of who originates it, a dispute should always first be presented to the appropriate Program Manager who will make every attempt to resolve it. Contact us at 866-657-6278 and ask to speak to a supervisor or Program Manager.
If attempts to resolve the issue at the Program Manager level are unsuccessful, an appeal may be presented to the Program Administrator for further review. The appeal may be submitted by email and must be submitted within 45 days of the Program Manager's determination regarding the subject of the appeal or dispute. Please provide a copy of the NJCEP letter or other document from which you are appealing and as much other information as possible, including a detailed description of the issue, why you think your appeal should be granted, etc. The Program Administrator will review it and respond as soon as possible. (The Program Administrator typically acknowledges appeals within 5 business days of their submission. If you have not received an acknowledgment by then, you should contact the Program Administrator at 732-447-1359).
If all attempts to resolve an issue have been exhausted, pursuant to N.J.A.C. 14:1-1, you may file a petition for a formal hearing with the NJ Board of Public Utilities.
In 2017 the NJ Board of Public Utilities approved new procedures related to remediation of NJCEP contractor issues. According to Process #2 of the Contractor Remediation Procedures, a list of Suspended or Debarred Contractors is available here.