Vicari Echoes AARP's Call to Review JCP&L's Rates

How much profit is enough?

That's the question Ocean County Freeholder Joseph H. Vicari says needs to be answered, when it comes to JCP&L, and he offered his support of the demand by AARP for a rate review of the electric company.

According to the Asbury Park Press, AARP added its request for a review to that of the state Division of Rate Counsel, which exists to challenge utility companies' rate increase requests.

The rate counsel has said JCP&L may be earning more than it is entitled to, as a regulated company, estimating its profit at about $90 million. The electric company makes a profit on its base rate, which includes customer service, delivering electricity to homes and the infrastructure (power lines, etc.) by which that electricity is delivered.

"I support AARP on its questioning of JCP&L's rates," said Vicari, who has been extremely critical of the company in the wake of summer power outages that occurred at the Fourth of July, when the summer tourist population was at its peak, as well as the company's response after Hurricane Irene.

"There are serious issues of them being arrogant," the freeholder said, again expressing anger over the company's refusal to sit down with the freeholder board to discuss JCP&L's plans for dealing with this summer's influx of visitors.  

The topic of JCP&L's rates is on the agenda for the BPU meeting on Monday.