TRENTON — New Jersey's Supreme Court has told the Board of Public Utilities to go back to square one on a plan that could have raised energy costs by an estimated $50 million. The ruling released today found the BPU didn't adequately solicit public comment on its plan to increase payments by energy suppliers under a renewable energy program....
The N.J. Supreme court hears its first cases of the 2010-11 term Monday at the Richard Hughes Justice Complex in Trenton. Appellate Judge Edwin Stern joins the bench on temporary assignment in this September 2010 file photo.TRENTON — New Jersey's Supreme Court has told the Board of Public Utilities to go back to square one on a plan that could have raised energy costs by an estimated $50 million.
The ruling released today found the BPU didn't adequately solicit public comment on its plan to increase payments by energy suppliers under a renewable energy program.
In early 2008, the BPU announced it would let suppliers with existing contracts be "grandfathered" without the higher rate. It also said it would allow suppliers paying the higher rate to pass on the increase to customers.
The court ruled that the two issues shouldn't have been merged without adequate notice to the public. It ordered the BPU to restart the process to allow suppliers and the public the opportunity to comment.