JCP&L Proposes Rate Hike Strategy to Fund Grid Reliability

The proposal includes a $253 million increase in base distribution rates and a separate $476 million recovery charge for storm-related costs accumulated over recent years. By spreading the storm cost recovery over a 10-year period, the utility aims to prevent immediate, sharp spikes in monthly payments. If approved, the average residential customer currently paying $162.30 per month would see an increase of roughly $14.23.

FirstEnergy President of New Jersey Doug Mokoid described the filing as a balance between immediate affordability and the need for long-term grid infrastructure. The utility intends to leverage these funds to support a $2.1 billion investment in distribution reliability, including grid modernization and targeted vegetation management. The company reports that tree-related damage remains a primary driver of outages, with dead ash trees—a result of the Emerald Ash Borer—accounting for 60% of such incidents since 2020. The proposed capital plan is part of a broader $6.9 billion five-year commitment aimed at reducing service interruptions and hardening the system against increasingly severe weather patterns.