Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L), the FirstEnergy utility serving 1.2 million customers in 13 northern and central New Jersey counties, has asked the state to raise its rates. It filed in August, but it is now drawing attention: Utility Dive, citing the advocacy group PowerLines, called it the largest utility rate request filed in the third quarter of 2026. Nothing has been approved.
The Request at a Glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Filed | August 7, 2026, with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) |
| Base distribution increase | $253 million |
| Deferred storm costs | About $476 million, recovered over 10 years through a separate charge |
| Proposed effective date for new base rates | May 6, 2027 |
| When residential bills would change | January 2028 |
| Typical residential bill (767 kWh) | $162.30 now, +$14.23 a month, about 8.8% |
| Average across all customers | About 8.5% |
| Status | Pending. No BPU decision |
Figures are JCP&L’s, from its August 7 release.
The Math
- New typical bill: $162.30 + $14.23 = $176.53 a month.
- Percent increase: $14.23 ÷ $162.30 = 8.8%.
- Per year: $14.23 × 12 = $170.76, the figure state legislators cited in their letter opposing the request.
- Effective price per kWh: $162.30 ÷ 767 = 21.2¢ now. $176.53 ÷ 767 = 23.0¢ if the request were approved in full.
- Storm costs per year: $476 million ÷ 10 years = about $47.6 million a year, before any financing costs. JCP&L did not give a per-year figure.
Note the usage basis. JCP&L’s estimate uses 767 kWh. The BPU’s June 2026 figures in our New Jersey rate guide use 650 kWh ($137.47 for JCP&L), so the two bills are not directly comparable.
Why the Increase Would Wait Until 2028
JCP&L proposes that new base distribution rates take effect May 6, 2027. To keep residential bills flat that year, it proposes “offsets” equal to the 2027 change in residential base delivery rates. When the offsets expire in January 2028, the base increase reaches bills, about 7% by the company’s estimate. The separate storm cost charge would start the same month. Together they make the 8.8%.
JCP&L’s release does not describe how the offsets are funded or what they cost. That is a question for the BPU review.
What JCP&L Says the Money Is For
- $2.1 billion in additional distribution investment, part of a five-year, $6.9 billion capital plan.
- Grid modernization on its highest-priority circuits and remote control capability under its EnergizeNJ program.
- More tree trimming and removal. JCP&L says dead or diseased ash trees caused 60% of its tree-related outages since 2020 and that it has removed more than 74,000 since 2017.
- Storm costs: the $476 million was deferred from past storms and was reached before the July 3–6, 2026 storms, the company says.
JCP&L also proposed what it calls a “no-risk” time-of-use rate trial rewarding off-peak use.
Opposition
On August 12, Community News reported that State Sen. Carmen Amato Jr. and Assemblymen Brian Rumpf and Gregory Myhre, Republicans representing the 9th Legislative District, asked BPU President Ben Hertz-Shargel to “immediately and outright reject” the filing. The article noted that Gov. Mikie Sherrill had said in January she would push to freeze rates.
What Happens Next
The BPU will review the request through its rate case process: discovery, testimony from BPU staff and the state’s Division of Rate Counsel, possible settlement talks, and public hearings. Approved amounts are often well below requests. See how electric rate cases work.
We did not find a docket number, hearing dates or a decision deadline.
What It Means for JCP&L Customers
- Nothing changes now. Under JCP&L’s proposal, residential bills would not change until January 2028.
- Supply is separate. This request covers distribution and storm costs. Your supply price still resets each June through the state’s auction, unless you buy from a third-party supplier.
- For solar owners: a higher distribution rate raises the value of each kWh you produce and use yourself. How it affects exported power depends on New Jersey’s net metering rules, which are under review. See our New Jersey guide.
- To comment, watch your bill for a BPU notice of public hearings.
Limitations
All bill figures are JCP&L’s estimates of its own request. We did not read the filing itself or find the BPU docket. The 2028 timing depends on the BPU accepting the proposed offsets.
Sources
- FirstEnergy, “JCP&L Rate Proposal Delays Bill Impact for Residential Customers Until 2028 While Supporting Reliability Investments,” August 7, 2026
- ROI-NJ, “JCP&L rate proposal delays bill impact of 8.8% for residential customers until 2028,” August 7, 2026
- Community News, “Ocean County Lawmakers Urge BPU to Reject JCP&L’s 8.8% Rate Hike,” August 12, 2026
- Utility Dive, “US electric, gas utility rate requests spike to $4.5B in Q3: PowerLines,” October 9, 2026
Frequently asked questions
How much is JCP&L asking to raise rates?
JCP&L requested a $253 million increase in base distribution rates and recovery of about $476 million in deferred storm costs through a separate charge spread over 10 years. The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities has not decided the case.
How much would JCP&L bills go up?
JCP&L estimates $14.23 a month for a typical residential customer using 767 kWh, from $162.30 to $176.53, about 8.8%. That is the company's estimate of its own request; regulators often approve less.
When would the JCP&L increase take effect?
JCP&L proposed new base distribution rates effective May 6, 2027, with offsets so residential customers would not see the change until January 2028. The storm cost charge would also start in January 2028.
Can I comment on the JCP&L rate case?
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities generally accepts public comments and holds public hearings in rate cases. We did not find the docket number or hearing dates for this case; check the BPU website or your bill notices.
