Dive Summary:

• Public hearings in Toms River began this week about a rate hike Jersey Power needs to recoup $345 million of the $640 million spent restoring power for 2 million residents after super storm Sandy last October.
• As utilities increase rates nation-wide for infrastructure improvements, the Jersey utility wants to invest $70 million of funds to bolster the electricity system against future storms.
• Also in New Jersey, Public Service Electric & Gas filed a petition with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities in March to pull $3.9 billion through 2023 to harden the power system.

From the article:

“How quickly the rate cases will be decided is uncertain. At its most recent monthly meeting, the BPU set in motion two separate proceedings: one to determine how utilities should recover storm restoration costs and the other to determine what needs to be done to harden the power grid to prevent widespread outages in the future.”