PSE&G Rate Case Settlement Approved

PRNewswire 9-Oct-2024 1:56 PM

First Base Rate Increase in Six Years, an Annual Increase of About One Percent

NEWARK, N.J., Oct. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) approved a settlement agreement that PSE&G had reached with BPU staff, the New Jersey Division of Rate Counsel and other parties to PSE&G's electric and gas distribution base rate case filed in December 2023. The settlement advances PSE&G's ability to continue providing customers with affordable, award-winning service and customer care while also providing the financial strength necessary to maintain a reliable and resilient energy grid. 

This rate case filing was required by an earlier settlement and sought recovery of prior investments made to our distribution systems, and recognition of increasing costs over time including wages and benefits. Over the last six years, PSE&G has made significant investments in strengthening our distribution system, modernizing our infrastructure to meet customer needs and other previously authorized capital expenditures that were not reflected in current rates.

More information is available in the BPU order. 

"PSE&G provides safe, affordable and reliable service to our customers, which is all the more important as people become more dependent on electricity to power their lives," said Kim Hanemann, President and COO of PSE&G. "We remain focused on managing costs while also working to deliver the level of service our customers expect. This agreement recognizes the much-needed investments in our system that will both improve resiliency and help prepare us for the future. I want to acknowledge the BPU for their consideration and their approval of this settlement."

This base rate increase approved by the BPU will be PSE&G's first since 2018 and represents less than half the rate of inflation during that time. The settlement will result in a typical combined residential electric and gas customer bill increase of 7%, or $15 per month. Of note, this settlement follows the BPU's approval of certain rate changes that just went into effect October 1, 2024, primarily a 5% reduction in PSE&G gas bills. The combined effect of the October 1 changes would reduce the bill impact from this settlement for a typical combined residential electric and gas customer to about 5%, or $11 per month. New rates will go into effect Oct. 15, 2024.

PSE&G recognizes there are customers who need assistance paying utility bills. We encourage eligible customers to take advantage of all available assistance programs including LIHEAP and the New Jersey Universal Service Fund. In 2023, over 200,000 PSE&G customers received energy assistance, totaling $218 million. Through the Fresh Start Program, $92 million in outstanding balances were forgiven.

Information on payment assistance programs is available at pseg.com/help

PSE&G also encourages customers to take advantage of our energy efficiency programs, tips and tools to help reduce energy use and manage monthly bills.

PSE&G 

Public Service Electric & Gas Co. is New Jersey's oldest and largest gas and electric delivery public utility, as well as one of the nation's largest utilities. PSE&G has won the ReliabilityOne® Award for superior electric system reliability in the Mid-Atlantic region for 22 consecutive years. For the second consecutive year, PSE&G is the recipient of the ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year award in the Energy Efficiency Program Delivery category. In addition, in 2023 J.D. Power named PSE&G number one in customer satisfaction with residential and business electric service in the east among large utilities. PSE&G is a subsidiary of Public Service Enterprise Group Inc., (PSEG) (NYSE:PEG), a predominantly regulated infrastructure company focused on a clean energy future and has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for North America for 16 consecutive years (www.pseg.com).

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain of the matters discussed in this release about our and our subsidiaries' future performance, including, without limitation, future revenues, earnings, strategies, prospects, consequences, and all other statements that are not purely historical constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. Such statements are based on management's beliefs as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to management. When used herein, the words "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "believe," "expect," "plan," "should," "hypothetical," "potential," "forecast," "project," variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ are often presented with the forward-looking statements themselves. Other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in any forward-looking statements made by us herein are discussed in filings we make with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including our Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K. These factors include, but are not limited to:

• any inability to successfully develop, obtain regulatory approval for, or construct transmission and distribution, and our nuclear generation projects;
• the physical, financial and transition risks related to climate change, including risks relating to potentially increased legislative and regulatory burdens, changing customer preferences and lawsuits;
• any equipment failures, accidents, critical operating technology or business system failures, natural disasters, severe weather events, acts of war, terrorism or other acts of violence, sabotage, physical attacks or security breaches, cyberattacks or other incidents that may impact our ability to provide safe and reliable service to our customers;
• any inability to recover the carrying amount of our long-lived assets;
• disruptions or cost increases in our supply chain, including labor shortages;
• any inability to maintain sufficient liquidity or access sufficient capital on commercially reasonable terms;
• the impact of cybersecurity attacks or intrusions or other disruptions to our information technology, operational or other systems;
• a material shift away from natural gas toward increased electrification and a reduction in the use of natural gas;
• failure to attract and retain a qualified workforce;
• increases in the costs of equipment, materials, fuel, services and labor;
• the impact of our covenants in our debt instruments and credit agreements on our business;
• adverse performance of our defined benefit plan trust funds and Nuclear Decommissioning Trust Fund and increases in funding requirements and pension costs;
• any inability to extend certain significant contracts on terms acceptable to us;
• development, adoption and use of Artificial Intelligence by us and our third-party vendors;
• fluctuations in, or third-party default risk in wholesale power and natural gas markets, including the potential impacts on the economic viability of our generation units;
• our ability to obtain adequate nuclear fuel supply;
• changes in technology related to energy generation, distribution and consumption and changes in customer usage patterns;
• third-party credit risk relating to our sale of nuclear generation output and purchase of nuclear fuel;
• any inability to meet our commitments under forward sale obligations and Regional Transmission Organization rules;
• the impact of changes in state and federal legislation and regulations on our business, including PSE&G's ability to recover costs and earn returns on authorized investments;
• PSE&G's proposed investment projects or programs may not be fully approved by regulators and its capital investment may be lower than planned;
• our ability to receive sufficient financial support for our New Jersey nuclear plants from the markets, production tax credit and/or zero emission certificates program;
• adverse changes in and non-compliance with energy industry laws, policies, regulations and standards, including market structures and transmission planning and transmission returns;
• risks associated with our ownership and operation of nuclear facilities, including increased nuclear fuel storage costs, regulatory risks, such as compliance with the Atomic Energy Act and trade control, environmental and other regulations, as well as operational, financial, environmental and health and safety risks;
• changes in federal and state environmental laws and regulations and enforcement;
• delays in receipt of, or an inability to receive, necessary licenses and permits and siting approvals; and
• changes in tax laws and regulations.

All of the forward-looking statements made in this release are qualified by these cautionary statements and we cannot assure you that the results or developments anticipated by management will be realized or even if realized, will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, us or our business, prospects, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements in making any investment decision. Forward-looking statements made in this release apply only as of the date of this release. While we may elect to update forward-looking statements from time to time, we specifically disclaim any obligation to do so, even in light of new information or future events, unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws.

The forward-looking statements contained in this release are intended to qualify for the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

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SOURCE PSEG