HACKENSACK—A proposal to replace customer lead service lines—and impose a surcharge of up to 85 cents per month on water bills for 200,000 customers in Bergen and Hudson counties—will be open for public comment today, Tuesday, Jan. 21 from 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. in Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders Meeting Room in Hackensack.
The state Office of Administrative Law is conducting the hearing, which will be overseen by Judge Jacob S. Gertsman.
The Suez petition to begin a two-year pilot program was transferred last year by the state Board of Public Utilities to the OAL for a decision and recommendation back to BPU.
“While we continue to remove lead service lines from our system, we believe that consumers across New Jersey need relief from the cost of replacing lead service lines on their property, if present,” Suez spokeswoman Debra Vial via email Jan. 8. “We have a proposal before the BPU that would reduce the cost of replacement to homeowners to $1000. To help customers further, we propose a no interest payment plan.”
Suez’s proposal is opposed by the state Division of Rate Counsel—an advocate for statewide utility customers—on the basis that Suez, a private utility, cannot do work on private property and charge all ratepayers. They note “well established state law” prevents such private utility work.
In addition, Rate Counsel contends that Suez’s proposal to do such work and make a profit is not only illegal but sets a bad precedent for future utilities doing work on private property in the state.
Today’s hearing is likely to be the only opportunity for Suez customers in Pascack and Northern Valley towns to offer views on the proposal.
However, customers may submit written comments via U.S. mail to Gertsman, Office of Administrative Law, P.O. Box 49, Trenton, N.J., 08625-0049.
[Related story: Suez’s Plan for Lead Fix to get Jan. 21 Hearing]
Editor’s note: This headline of this story was updated Jan. 22.
