Electric bills may increase in February with more service

Residents living in sections of the Township of West Milford who receive their electric service from the Rockland Electric Company could receive a higher bill with increased services early next year.

Notification was given by the company that on May 21 it requested a regulatory review of its electric delivery rates by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU).

To fund initiatives for improved service, the company seeks an increase in revenues for electric delivery of $16.9 million, an increase of 7.7 percent on a total bill basis.

Under the proposed rates, the bill for a typical residential customer using a monthly average of 925 kWh would increase on an average from approximately $168 to $183.80, according to information from the company.

The stated company goal in filing for the review is to provide for the continued safe, reliable and secure operation of its electric delivery system.

If approved by the NJBPU, new rates for the delivery of electric service would become effective on or about Feb. 21, 2022.

Filing of the document began a public review process with the New Jersey Division of Rate Counsel (NJBPU, and several other interested parties, including energy industry representatives and consumer and environmental advocacy groups.

The company announcement said customer input through public hearings is an essential part of the process. In the electric rate review filing, Rockland Electric Company reports on a series of initiatives designed to strengthen the electronic service reliability and resilience for its customers while sporting a clean energy future. Among those initiatives are projects that modernize the electric system.

Examples given were:

Undergrounding of more overhead electric lines to protect them from storm damage;

Installing smart technology to prevent storm related outages caused by downed trees and limbs; and

Enhancing tree trimming to limit storm damage.

Information provided by Rockland Electric Company said the company recognizes that in the vision for a clean energy future, customers will increasingly rely on electricity to provide a wider range of services such as charging their cars or even heating their homes, all while seeking clean, renewable resources. As this dependence grows, electric service reliability and resiliency will become even more important – highlighting the critical goals of this regulatory rate review, the company said.