Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, fellow panelists, colleagues and friends. I am pleased to have this opportunity to meet so many members of the new jersey technology council and i am grateful for paul frank’s invitation to join you today.

The technology business community, those of you involved in communications, life sciences, electronics, information technology and software, energy efficiency, renewable energy and the environment are all driving the economic growth and improved standards of living for the people of new jersey. You are very important contributors to the economy of our state.

Before i begin commenting on “electricity deregulation; a year later” let me tell you something about my office-- what we do and our perspectives.
The division of the ratepayer advocate is an independent state agency that represents all utility customers in new jersey whenever the rates and services for electric, natural gas, water and wastewater, tele-communications and cable tv are decided by state and federal agencies. We are committed to ensuring that all ratepayers receive safe, reliable and affordable services.

My staff and i represent the legal interests of ratepayers before the new jersey board of public utilities, state and federal courts, the federal communications commission and the federal energy regulatory commission whenever utility companies seek changes in their rates and services and decide the policies which affect those services. The ratepayer advocate also participates on behalf of consumers when long-range energy, water and telecommunications policies are being decided.

A very important part of our responsibilities includes protecting the interests of new jersey’s most vulnerable utility customers, the elderly, the disabled, and low-income residents of the state. The ratepayer advocate may be their only representative in utility proceedings.
However, residential customers are not my only constituents. The ratepayer advocate is firmly committed to ensuring that small commercial and industrial customers pay reasonable rates as well; that they receive accurate, understandable utility bills, and that they have access to the same opportunities to economize on utility bills that the largest customers have.

As you know, last summer the electric utility rate caps imposed by the electricity discount and energy competition act of 1999 (“edeca”) were removed. The four major electric utilities were involved in base rate cases at that time, and my office represented the interests of all consumers in those proceedings. The second phase of those cases are underway for rockland electric and conectiv, while jcp&l and pse&g are just about to begin. These “phase two” proceedings will determine the new permanent rates for electric utilities. Of course, as we know, “permanent” rates do not last forever, and the ratepayer advocate will be prepared when the utilities return for their next base rate cases by filing another round of applications to the board of public utilities.

In the meantime, it is important for all ratepayers to take advantage of the competitive opportunities that the restructured energy marketplace provides. To help explain where we are and where we are going, i will present a power point presentation that outlines the changes the electricity discount and energy competition act of 1999 made to the energy marketplace and what utility customers can expect now and in the future, tips for shopping for new energy suppliers, as well as the most recently reported numbers on the progress of customer switching in the retail electric market.

At the end of the presentation my colleagues and i will be pleased to answer any questions you may have.

Thank you for your patience.

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