Addiego, Rudder & Brown

April 15, 2010   

Contact: Robbie Kenney / (609) 654-1498
Assemblyman Scott Rudder, Senator Dawn Marie Addiego

Lawmakers Urge BPU to Consider Economy Before Deciding on Application

Senator Phil Haines, Assemblywoman Dawn Marie Addiego and Assemblyman Scott Rudder are concerned about New Jersey American Water’s request for a 13.6 percent rate increase and have asked the BPU to exercise extreme diligence when considering the petition.

“This is absolutely the worst time to be asking New Jersey families to dig deeper and bear the burden of a double-digit rate increase,” said Assemblywoman Addiego. “We need to slow down and take a deep breath.”

The three legislators sent a letter to Lee Soloman, president of the Board of Public Utilities, urging extreme caution.

“The economic situation is forcing everyone to cut and make do with less. New Jersey American Water should find ways to do the same,” said Assemblyman Rudder.

In 2008, New Jersey American was granted a 15 percent increase, after requesting a $124 million increase of 23.5 percent. The company got a 12.46 percent increase in 2006, and an almost 10 percent increase in 2003.

“The water company has gotten significant increases in recent years,” said Senator Haines. “Piling another large increase on now, with some many of our families suffering and struggling, is not something we are comfortable with.”

The following is the text of the letter sent by Haines, Addiego and Rudder to the BPU:

Mr. Lee A. Solomon
President
New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
P.O. Box 350
Trenton, NJ 08625

April 15, 2010

Dear President Solomon:

We are writing to urge you to exercise extreme diligence regarding the 13.6 percent rate increase proposed by New Jersey American Water Company.

A double-digit rate increase is disconcerting in the current economic environment, and we implore you to protect New Jersey rate-payers from the impact of the water company’s petition.

New Jersey American has benefited from substantial revenue increases in recent years. The company was granted an increase of more than 15 percent in December of 2008. In 2006, the New Jersey American got a 12.46 percent increase, and in 2003, rates were increased by almost 10 percent.

We are convinced that another sizable increase is ill-conceived and potentially damaging to any economic recovery.

We are confident New Jersey American can maintain the flow of safe, clean water without this rate hike, and Burlington County families simply can not afford the pressures this increase will create.

To discuss this matter further, we can be reached through the 8th District office at (609) 654-1498.

Sincerely,

Philip E. Haines
Senator

Dawn Marie Addiego
Assemblyman

Scott Rudder
Assemblyman

Lawmakers Urge BPU to Consider Economy Before Deciding on Application Senator Phil Haines, Assemblywoman Dawn Marie Addiego and Assemblyman Scott Rudder are concerned about New Jersey American Water’s request for a 13.6 percent rate increase and have asked the BPU to exercise extreme diligence when considering [...]