Powerful NJ Lobbies Oppose $4B PSE&G Grid Upgrade Plan

Public Service Electric & Gas is facing mounting opposition to its plan to spend nearly $4 billion to harden its power grid to prevent widespread outages during major storms.

In a letter sent late yesterday afternoon to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, five of the state’s most prominent lobbying organizations urged the agency to reject out of hand or delay indefinitely PSE&G’s proposal, submitted to the agency in February. They said it would spike utility bills for both residential and industrial customers.

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The concerns raised by the groups underscore how difficult it will be for the agency and the state’s utilities to undertake what virtually everyone acknowledges are expensive upgrades to New Jersey’s gas and electric infrastructure. This despite the fact that the upgrades are necessary to prevent disruption of power and heating systems during extreme weather, such as Hurricane Sandy.

Indeed, the letter jointly issued by AARP, New Jersey Citizen Action, the Chemistry Industry Council of New Jersey, the New Jersey Large Energy Users Coalition, and NJ Public Interest Research Group acknowledged that need.

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