New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
Encyclopedia
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) is a regulatory authority in New Jersey
charged with the responsibility of seeing that "safe, adequate, and proper utility services are provided at reasonable rates for customers in New Jersey." The NJBPU regulates natural gas
, electricity, water, telecommunications and cable television
services. The five-member Board addresses issues of consumer protection, energy reform, deregulation of energy and telecommunications services and the restructuring of utility rates to encourage energy conservation
and competitive pricing in the industry. The Board monitors utility service and responds to consumer complaints.
. In 1994, the NJBPU was moved to its current position within the New Jersey Department of the Treasury
.
As of 2010, Lee A. Solomon is the President of the Board of Public Utilities. He was appointed to the position in 2010 by Gov. Chris Christie.
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
charged with the responsibility of seeing that "safe, adequate, and proper utility services are provided at reasonable rates for customers in New Jersey." The NJBPU regulates natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
, electricity, water, telecommunications and cable television
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
services. The five-member Board addresses issues of consumer protection, energy reform, deregulation of energy and telecommunications services and the restructuring of utility rates to encourage energy conservation
Energy conservation
Energy conservation refers to efforts made to reduce energy consumption. Energy conservation can be achieved through increased efficient energy use, in conjunction with decreased energy consumption and/or reduced consumption from conventional energy sources...
and competitive pricing in the industry. The Board monitors utility service and responds to consumer complaints.
History
The NJBPU traces its roots back to 1911, with the formation of the Department of Public Utilities, which then covered gas, electricity, water and communications, as well as railroads and interstate commerce. In 1977, the NJBPU was placed within the Department of Environmental Protection and EnergyNew Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is a government agency in the U.S. state of New Jersey that is responsible for managing the state's natural resources and addressing issues related to pollution...
. In 1994, the NJBPU was moved to its current position within the New Jersey Department of the Treasury
New Jersey Department of the Treasury
The mission of the New Jersey Department of the Treasury is to formulate and manage the state's budget, generate and collect revenues, disburse the appropriations used to operate New Jersey state government, manage the state's physical and financial assets, and provide statewide support services to...
.
As of 2010, Lee A. Solomon is the President of the Board of Public Utilities. He was appointed to the position in 2010 by Gov. Chris Christie.