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Jersey Central Power and Light rep explains 19.9% supply increase, smart-meter rollout and customer relief
Summary
Bob Flynn of Jersey Central Power and Light told residents the 19.9% basic generation service (BGS) increase stems from a PJM auction, not JCP&L, described smart-meter benefits and opt-outs, and said the state has delayed collection until September with a roughly $60 customer credit.
Bob Flynn, a representative of Jersey Central Power and Light, told a community audience that a 19.9% increase in the state's basic generation service (BGS) supply charge came from this year's competitive PJM auction and is not a JCP&L rate increase. "There's no markup. We don't make any money on it," Flynn said, describing BGS as a supplier pass-through set by the auction.
Flynn said BGS is the default supplier rate for customers who do not choose third-party suppliers and that JCP&L now only delivers electricity rather than generating it. He summarized recent rate actions and context, including a 3.6% base-rate settlement effective June 1, 2024, and prior auction-driven supply changes, and warned that higher consumption during an unusually cold winter and hot summer amplified customers' bills.
He described the company's ongoing smart-meter rollout, saying JCP&L expects to finish statewide installations by the end of 2025 and that customers may decline a smart meter and retain legacy meters for an opt-out fee he estimated at about $11—$12 per month. Flynn said smart meters improve outage detection and reduce estimated reads, allowing the utility to remotely check whether a meter has power. "Estimated reads should be something of the past after this year," he said.
Flynn listed customer-assistance and energy-efficiency options available through JCP&L and partners (TRC and Willdan), including appliance rebates, weatherization, the EnergysaveNJ marketplace and programs such as USF, HEAP, LIHEAP, Comfort Partners and WAP. He also provided JCP&L's customer hotline (1-800-662-3115) and web resources for shopping third-party suppliers and applying for assistance.
Addressing state action on the supply increase, Flynn said the governor instructed relief measures that will delay collection of the BGS increase until September and provide an approximately $60 credit to customer accounts; an additional roughly $30.40 credit may apply for customers on qualifying payment plans. Flynn described the policy as evolving and recommended customers do research before switching to third-party suppliers because short introductory terms can later cost more than the default service.
During the question-and-answer period, a resident recounted dramatic monthly swings after enrollment in an equal-payment plan and said their account moved from $62.62 to $2.47, then to other amounts; Flynn advised contacting billing supervisors for a detailed review and explained that equal-payment plans are typically adjusted annually to reconcile actual usage and the plan amount. He also explained that smart-meter installations are performed by a certified third-party contractor called Wellington and that technicians will contact customers and wear identification badges.
The presentation closed with Flynn offering to answer additional industry questions and help residents reach billing staff for account-specific problems. The company's website and the state's NJ Power Switch were provided as resources for customers considering third-party suppliers or seeking assistance.
