This summer, New Jersey residents are increasingly complaining about their electric bills skyrocketing. A Parsippany resident complained on social media, \u201cI just got my electric bill for July and it\u2019s a whopping $782. I can\u2019t believe it; my house is average-sized.\u201d Another person agreed, saying, \u201cI\u2019m in the same situation,\u201d and \u201cMy electric bill, which is usually $150-$160, suddenly jumped to $495.\u201d<\/p>\n
The spike in electric bills is attributed to the fact that New Jersey\u2019s major electric companies raised their rates across the board on June 1, and the record-breaking heat wave has led to a surge in electricity Saczawa PSE&G, which primarily supplies power to northern New Jersey, raised its monthly rates by 9 percent, while JCP&L, a power company in central New Jersey, raised its rates by 8.7 percent.<\/p>\n
But even after accounting for the rate increases, customers say they are being billed excessively. Experts say that the fact that last month was much hotter than the previous year is also a reason for the surge in electricity bills. This June was the second warmest June on average in New Jersey since 1985, but last June was unusually cold.<\/p>\n
The analysis is that the rate increases and the fact that air conditioners were running much longer than usual this summer have led to high electricity bills. \u201cThe rate increase is too much,\u201d said one JCP&L customer, \u201cbut it seems to be because the air conditioners were on all day because of the heat.\u201d \u201cThe biggest factor in the increase in electricity bills this summer is the hot and humid weather,\u201d said Christopher Hoenig, a JCP&L spokesman. \u201cIn general, air conditioners consume the most electricity in homes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, in New Jersey, there is an electric bill assistance program for low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities. Application qualifications and detailed information for each assistance program can be found on the state website (nj.gov\/dca\/dhcr\/offices\/energy.shtml).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"