New Jersey Board of Public Utilities

Last updated
State of New Jersey
Board of Public Utilities
Seal of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities.svg
Agency overview
Preceding agency
  • Board of Regulatory Commissioners
Jurisdiction New Jersey
Headquarters44 S. Clinton Avenue, Trenton, NJ 08625
Employees278
Agency executive
  • Christine Guhl-Sadovy, President
Parent agency New Jersey Department of the Treasury
Website www.state.nj.us/bpu/

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) is a regulatory authority in New Jersey "with authority to oversee the regulated utilities, which in turn provide critical services such as natural gas, electricity, water, telecommunications and cable television. The law requires the Board to ensure safe, adequate, and proper utility services at reasonable rates for customers." [1] NJBPU regulates natural gas, electricity, water, telecommunications and cable television services. NJBPU's five-member 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. NJBPU monitors utility service and responds to consumer complaints.

Contents

The Board of Public Utilities administers incentive programs that support the development of solar power in New Jersey and offshore wind power in New Jersey.

History

NJBPU traces its roots back to 1910, with the formation of the Board of Public Utility Commissioners, [2] which then covered gas, electricity, water and communications, as well as railroads and interstate commerce. In 1977, NJBPU was placed within the Department of Environmental Protection and Energy. In 1994, NJBPU was moved to its current position within the New Jersey Department of the Treasury.

Commissioners are appointed to six-year terms and traditionally with partisan balance with no more than three members of the same party. [3] The governor also selects one commissioner to serve as president and in the governor's cabinet. Commissioner Christine Guhl-Sadovy (since June 2023) was named the President of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities after the death of Joseph L. Fiordaliso in September 2023. [4] [5] [6] The other four commissioners are Mary-Anna Holden (since January 2012), Zenon Christodoulou (since August 2022), Marian Abdou (since June 2023), and a vacant seat (since September 2023). [7]

Past commissioners include Joseph L. Fiordaliso (2006–2023, president 2018–2023), Barbara A. Curran (1980–1988, president 1982–1988), Upendra J. Chivukula (2014–2022), Richard Mroz (president 2014–2018), Nicholas Asselta (2008–2012), Jeanne Fox (2002–2014), Robert M. Hanna (2011–2014), Lee Solomon (2010–2011), Dianne Solomon (2013–2023, president 2014), and Robert M. Gordon (2018-2023).

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References

  1. vfisher. "Board of Public Utilities - About NJBPU". www.bpu.state.nj.us.
  2. "NJDARM: Collection Guide" (PDF). Retrieved 2018-08-14.
  3. Wildstein, David (2018-01-11). "Murphy's choices for BPU". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
  4. Wildstein, David (2023-09-11). "Murphy picks Guhl-Sadovy as new BPU President". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved 2023-09-11.
  5. Wildstein, David (2023-09-07). "Joe Fiordaliso, Board of Public Utilties President, dies at 78". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
  6. Racioppi, Dustin (2023-09-07). "New Jersey BPU President Joe Fiordaliso, who helped lead state's shift to clean energy, has died". POLITICO. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
  7. Meet the Commissioners, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. Accessed February 2, 2022.