New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
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 over the last 10 years 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 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.
To reach such status, the Board has undergone significant changes to the Clean Energy Program, set tall goals, and made a commitment to clean energy that have given rise to the successful green energy sector that currently exists in the state.
Clean Energy Board Orders
Clean Energy Board Orders are located on the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities’ website.
BPU Legislation
View legislation that made the statewide efficiency and customer-sited generation programs possible.
Dispute Resolution Process
It is the goal of all parties involved in New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program 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, the appeal may be presented to the Program Administrator for further review. The dispute may be submitted by email or by regular mail to Applied Energy Group (AEG), 317 George Street, Suite 305, New Brunswick, NJ 08901. Please provide as much information as possible, including a detailed description of the issue, the dates of conversations with the Program Managers regarding the dispute, etc. AEG will document the issue, and review it with appropriate Office of Clean Energy personnel, and respond as soon as possible.
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.
Contractor Remediation Policy
In 2010, the NJ Board of Public Utilities approved new procedures related to remediation of NJCEP contractor issues. Attached please find the Contractor Remediation Policy which sets the new procedures.