_05252021-289.pdf — PaddleOCR-VL (Baidu)

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municipalities will join us as well in expressing their opposition to this big rate increase on the back of us rate prayers that pay for their projects its wrong.

PUBLIC COMMENT OPENED, RESOLUTIONS ONLY

NO ONE CAME FORWARD.

MOTION TO CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT, RESOLUTIONS ONLY BY: FLEMMING MOTION SECONDED BY: SAUICKIE YES: BORRELLI, CHISHOLM, SAUICKIE, FLEMMING, KERN

RESOLUTION 192R-21

TITLE: RESOLUTION REQUESTING THAT THE NEW JERSEY BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES REJECT NEW JERSEY NATURAL GAS COMPANY'S PETITION FOR A 25% CUSTOMER RATE INCREASE

MOTION TO APPROVE BY: SAUICKIE MOTION SECONDED BY: CHISHOLM YES: BORRELLI, CHISHOLM, SAUICKIE, FLEMMING, KERN

WHEREAS, New Jersey Natural Gas company has petitioned the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities for a 25 percent customer rate increase; and

WHEREAS, the increase will add more than $28 per month to the average ratepayer's bill; and

WHEREAS, the utility states that it needs the increase to pay for infrastructure improvements, including the Southern Reliability Link transmission pipeline; and

WHEREAS, Jackson Township, and all Ocean County residents, are still suffering the economic impacts of the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic; and

WHEREAS, Jackson Township has a large senior citizen population, and senior citizens received only a 1.3% increase in their Social Security checks in 2021 but are now expected to pay this 25 percent increase; and

WHEREAS, seniors and other vulnerable residents might be forced to choose between this preposterous increase or buying necessary food and medicine; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Public Utilities, which will decide on this enormous increase, has no representation from Ocean County.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor and Council of the Township of Jackson hereby request that the State Board of Public Utilities reject this unnecessary increase.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that New Jersey Natural Gas should pay for the pipeline and other improvements through its growing profits and not burden ratepayers with these costs.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that an Ocean County resident should be appointed to the State Board of Public Utilities to ensure that local concerns can be better addressed.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution shall be forwarded to New Jersey Natural Gas, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, Governor Phil Murphy, Congressman Christopher Smith, Senator Samuel Thompson, Assemblyman Ronald Dancer, Assemblyman Robert Clifton and Stafanie A. Brand, Director for the Division of Rate Counsel.

JANICE KISTY, R.M.C. TOWNSHIP CLERK