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REMARKS
OF SEEMA M. SINGH, ESQ.
RATEPAYER ADVOCATE PRESENTED BY CHRISTINE M. JUAREZ, ESQ. ASSISTANT DEPUTY RATEPAYER ADVOCATE DIVISION OF THE RATEPAYER ADVOCATE In
the Matter of the Petition of New Jersey Natural Gas Company BPU Docket No. GR05030192 PUBLIC
HEARING Good evening, everyone. My name is Christine Juarez, and I am an attorney representing the New Jersey Division of the Ratepayer Advocate. Our office was created by the New Jersey Legislature to represent ratepayers in cases such as this where a utility seeks an increase in rates or change in services. In the present case, New Jersey Natural Gas Company (NJNG or the Company) filed a Petition with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (Board or BPU) on February 28, 2005. The Company is requesting the Board’s approval to lower the annual therm threshold to transition commercial and industrial customers to monthly BGSS pricing. Under the Company’s proposal, all commercial and industrial customers using more than 5,000 therms of natural gas annually will be transitioned to monthly BGSS pricing. The Company also seeks to create a Small Commercial BGSS program, applicable to customers using less than 5,000 therms annually. Under this program, the pricing structure will include the same fixed components as the Monthly BGSS; however, the commodity portion will not fluctuate monthly, but will be fixed for a specific term. Finally, under the Company’s proposal, a per-therm price, applicable to monthly BGSS customers as well as Small Commercial BGSS customers, will be established to be used for under-recovery in the Periodic BGSS. The Company proposes to create a separate account to track such recovery. Our office is investigating the Company’s proposal based upon the information that is being supplied by the Company. The Ratepayer Advocate’s inquiry is focused on whether the Company’s proposal is reasonable and fair to both commercial and industrial customers as well as the Company’s other ratepayers. The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, with legal submissions from the Company and the Ratepayer Advocate, will make the final decision regarding the utility’s proposal. The purpose of this hearing is for you, the customer, to voice your opinion, relate your experiences and offer comments about the Company’s rates and service. It is important that you express your views so they may become part of the record on which the Board of Public Utilities makes its decision. The Ratepayer Advocate also needs to hear your views. Your active participation is strongly encouraged to help in our evaluation of the Company’s proposal. This hearing is being transcribed and your comments will become part of the record. I would like to reiterate the importance of your participation so that the Ratepayer Advocate can have a clear record of your concerns and interests. On behalf of the Ratepayer Advocate, I thank you for attending tonight’s hearing. |
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