NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

VEOLIA WATER NEW JERSEY, INC.

IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION OF VEOLIA WATER NEW JERSEY, INC.  FOR APPROVAL OF AN INCREASE IN RATES FOR WATER/SEWER SERVICE 

AND OTHER TARIFF CHANGES

BPU Docket No. WR23110790

OAL Docket No. PUC 13875-23

TO OUR CUSTOMERS:

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that on November 9, 2023, Veolia Water New Jersey, Inc. (“VWNJ” or “Company”), a public utility of the State of New Jersey, filed a petition (“Petition”) with the Board of Public Utilities (“Board”) of the State of New Jersey for approval of an increase in its base rates for water and sewer service. The Petition was filed pursuant to N.J.S.A. 48:2-21 and other relevant statutes and regulations.

The Company is requesting an overall increase in water revenues of $63,926,032, or approximately 19.57% above the annual level of revenues for the test year period ending March 31, 2024.  The Company believes the increase is necessary in order for it to be able to continue to provide safe, adequate and proper service to its customers and to prevent the impairment of its financial integrity. 

The proposed base rates for all customers are contained in the tariff sheets and the Petition was filed with the Board.  The present and proposed rates for monthly billing for General Metered Service (Former New Jersey) are as follows:

COMPARISON OF PRESENT AND PROPOSED BASE RATES

Consumption and monthly facilities charges have been revised as follows:

General Metered Service:

Rate Schedule 1

Service Area No.1 (Former New Jersey)

Average Residential Monthly Bill using 4 CCF or 3,000 gallons

Average Monthly Bill using 4,000 gallons.

Any relief determined by the Board to be just and reasonable may be allocated by the Board to any class or classes of customers of the Company in such manner and, in such amounts or percentages, as the Board may deem appropriate.  The Board may choose to impose a greater portion of the increase on any present or future class, classes, group, or groups of customers; may exclude from any increase any of the foregoing; and may vary the amount of percentage increase applicable to any of the foregoing.

Further information and copies of the Petition may be obtained at the Board’s offices located at 44 South Clinton Avenue, 1st Floor, P.O. Box 350, Trenton, New Jersey, 08625, or at the Company’s offices located at 461 From Road #400, Paramus, New Jersey 07652. The complete schedules for the proposed rates are part of the Petition filed with the Board, which was served upon the Director of the Division of Rate Counsel.  A notice of the filing of this proceeding as well as a copy of the Board’s suspension order, was also served on the Clerks of the municipalities and Boards of County Commissioners in the service areas of VWNJ.  The Petition and all attachments may also viewed at: the Company’s website https://mywater.veolia.us/  enter your zip code, and click on the link.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE the virtual public hearings will be conducted on the following date and times so that members of the public may present their views on the Petition:

Date:                                       February 5, 2024

Times:                                    4:30 pm and 5:30 pm

Link:   https://saul.zoom.us/j/98288911090?pwd=SFp6WGJpeFZ3Q2x2Ujc3RWV0U3J6QT09

Meeting ID:                          982 8891 1090

Passcode:                            769452

Dial-In Number:                 +1 646 558 8656

Representatives from the Company, Board Staff, and Rate Counsel will participate in the virtual public hearings, which will be presided upon by an Administrative Law Judge.  Members of the public are invited to participate by utilizing the link or dial-in information above to express their views on the Petition.  All comments will be made a part of the final record in this proceeding to be considered by the Board.  To encourage full participation in this opportunity for public comment, please submit any requests for needed accommodations, such as interpreters and/or listening assistance, 48 hours prior to the above hearings to the Board Secretary at [email protected].

The Board is also accepting written and electronic comments.  Comments may be submitted directly to the specific docket listed above using the “Post Comments” button on the Board’s Public Document Search tool.  Comments are considered public documents for purposes of the State’s Open Public Records Act.  Only public documents should be submitted using the “Post Comments” button on the Board’s Public Document Search tool.  Any confidential information should be submitted in accordance with the procedures set forth in N.J.A.C. 14:1-12.3.  In addition to hard copy submissions, confidential information may also be filed electronically via the Board’s e-filing system or by email to the Secretary of the Board.  Please include “Confidential Information” in the subject line of any email.  Instructions for confidential e-filing are found on the Board’s webpage: https://www.nj.gov/bpu/agenda/efiling/.

Emailed and/or written comments may also be submitted to:

Secretary of the Board

NJ Board of Public Utilities

44 South Clinton Ave., 1st Floor

PO Box 350

Trenton, NJ 08625-0350

Phone: 609-913-6241

Email: [email protected]

Stephen B. Genzer

Shane P. Simon

Saul Ewing LLP

1 Riverfront Plaza

1037 Raymond Blvd., Ste. 1520

Newark, NJ 07102

Phone: (973) 286-6712

Email: [email protected]

[email protected]