State of New Jersey

STATE OF NEW JERSEY
Division of The Ratepayer Advocate
31 Clinton Street, 11th Fl
P. O. Box 46005
Newark, New Jersey 07101

Press Release

For Immediate Release
Thursday, June 26, 2003

For Further Information
Contact: Tom Rosenthal
Tel: 973-648-2690

RATEPAYER ADVOCATE SEEMA M. SINGH, ESQ. APPLAUDS CONCLUSION OF RATE FILINGS THAT REDUCE RATES FOR COMCAST CUSTOMERS 

CUSTOMERS RECEIVE RATE DECREASE OF UP TO $.47 PER MONTH

Newark, NJ –. Seema M. Singh, Ratepayer Advocate and Public Advocate-designate, today applauded the successful conclusion of Comcast rate cases that will reduce rates for customers in Burlington, East Brunswick, East Windsor, West Windsor, Carney’s Point, Freehold, Northwest, Plainfield, Burlington County, Monmouth County and Gloucester County.   Customers will receive rate decreases of up to $.47 per month.  The Board of Public Utilities (BPU) approved the reduced rates at today’s Board Agenda Meeting.

“Today’s decision protects the interest of consumers and brings financial benefits to Comcast customers,” said Ms. Singh. The overall value of these rate reductions will be approximately $1.1 million, which will immediately take effect on customer’s bills. 

The Comcast Systems filed for rate adjustment under the State’s Expedited Procedures Program, which is an optional program, based upon the principles of Alternate Dispute Resolution.   A cable provider may choose expedited processing when filing its annual rate schedule and has 48 hours from the date of the filing to provide necessary supplemental information in order to complete its filing for expedited treatment. 

The Ratepayer Advocate and the BPU drafted the Expedited Procedures Program informational guidelines in 1995, in consultation with the Cable Industry, to conserve valuable resources and avoid costly litigation. Consumers will benefit directly from the procedures that reduce costs.

The Ratepayer Advocate reviews the information submitted by the cable providers independently of the BPU. Rate adjustment cases settled under the Expedited Procedures are usually concluded within 90-120 days.  In instances in which there are issues that demand more detailed exploration, the case is transmitted to the Office of Administrative Law.

The Division of the Ratepayer Advocate represents the interests of utility consumers and serves as an active participant in every case when New Jersey utilities seek changes in their rates or services.  The Ratepayer Advocate also gives consumers a voice in setting long-range energy, water, and telecommunications policy that will affect the delivery of utility services well into the future. Additional information on this and other matters can be found at the Division of Ratepayer Advocate’s website at http://www.rpa.state.nj.us


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