Dive Brief:
- Public Service Electric and Gas (PSE&G), New Jersey's largest utility, is in a very public battle with a business coalition opposing the utility's plan to spend $3.9 billion on grid upgrades in the aftermath of extended weather-induced outages caused by Superstorm Sandy and other storms since 2011.
- PSE&G told the Board of Public Utilities that the New Jersey Large Energy Users Coalition should not be able to participate in proceedings on the so-called Energy Strong case because it will not name its members, how much they spend on power and how the plan would affect them.
- PSE&G's plan would over 10 years strengthen or bury power lines, flood-proof substations, modernize computer systems and install smart grid technology.
Dive Insight:
PSE&G's plan has support from municipalities, labor unions, medical care providers and some business groups even though it would raise electric rates by 4.5%. The utility is dismissing the coalition's right to be in the case, saying in legal papers it is "not an entity, but is a nickname for a group."