Roughly $630 million was spent on Sandy recovery, the company says. The proposed 4.5 percent rate increase would raise the average customer's bill by more than $50 per year.
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A lineman with Jersey Central Power & Light works to restore power along Route 519 in the Phillipsburg area after a storm.
But for the company's Warren and Hunterdon customers wishing to attend, Morristown in Morris County will be the nearest of three options.
That's at least 30 miles from most points in adjacent Warren County.
The other two are in Ocean and Monmouth counties, both more than 50 miles for most locals.
"Hearings are scattered throughout our service territory," JCP&L spokesman Ron Morano said, noting the company covers a wide portion of the state.
The company announced the intended increase last month when it filed with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. The measure is intended to recoup some of the recovery costs of Superstorm Sandy and other storms in recent years, the company says.
Roughly $630 million was spent on Sandy recovery, the company says. A 4.5 percent rate increase would raise the average customer's bill by more than $50 per year.
Morano said hearings are scheduled in accordance with the Board of Public Utilities and are subject to state regulations.
Board spokesman Greg Reinart provided The Express-Times a copy of an order from a Newark judge with the state Office of Administrative Law establishing the public hearings. He said he could not immediately say what statutes are used to determine the meeting dates and locations.
"This is a matter before the administrative law judge," Reinart said.
Morano said he understands the scheduled meetings are out of the way for Hunterdon and Warren customers. The state accepts mailed comments, but Morano said attending the hearings is the most effective way for their voices to be heard.
"The public hearings are the place to provide input," said Morano. "There might be other ways for them to express their points of view but the best way to do that is to come to the public hearings."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Jersey Central Power & Light has public hearings in New Jersey on a proposed rate hike:
- 1:30 and 6:30 p.m. April 6 at the Ocean County Administration Building, Room 119, 191 Hooper Ave., Toms River.
- 1:30 and 6:30 p.m. April 18 at the Morris County Administration and Records Building, fifth floor, 10 Court St., Morristown.
- 1:30 and 6:30 p.m. April 24 at the Freehold Township Municipal Building, One Municipal Plaza, Schanck Road at Stillwells Corner Road, Freehold.
Written comments or statements can also be submitted to the Clerk of the Office of Administrative Law, 185 Washington St., Newark, NJ 07102.