New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
 | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Preceding agency |
|
| Jurisdiction | New Jersey |
| Headquarters | 44 S. Clinton Avenue, Trenton, NJ 08625 |
| Employees | 278 |
| Agency executive |
|
| Parent agency | New Jersey Department of the Treasury |
| Website | http://www.state.nj.us/bpu/ |
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) is a regulatory authority in New Jersey "with authority to oversee the regulated utilities, which in turn provide critical services such as natural gas, electricity, water, telecommunications and cable television. The law requires the Board to ensure safe, adequate, and proper utility services at reasonable rates for customers."[1] The NJBPU regulates natural gas, electricity, water, telecommunications and cable television services. The five-member Board addresses issues of consumer protection, energy reform, deregulation of energy and telecommunications services and the restructuring of utility rates to encourage energy conservation and competitive pricing in the industry. The Board monitors utility service and responds to consumer complaints.
History
The NJBPU traces its roots back to 1910, with the formation of the Board of Public Utility Commissioners,[2] which then covered gas, electricity, water and communications, as well as railroads and interstate commerce. In 1977, the NJBPU was placed within the Department of Environmental Protection and Energy. In 1994, the NJBPU was moved to its current position within the New Jersey Department of the Treasury.
As of October 2014, Richard S. Mroz is the President of the Board of Public Utilities, having been nominated to the position on September 18, 2014 by Gov. Chris Christie and confirmed by the New Jersey Senate on September 22, 2014. The other four Commissioners on the NJ BPU, as of October 2014, include Joseph L. Fiordaliso (September 2005 – present), Mary-Anna Holden (January 2012 – present), Dianne Solomon (June 2013 – present), and Upendra J. Chivukula (September 2014 – present).