I/M/O the Matter of the Petition of New Jersey Natural Gas Company for Approval of a Municipal Franchise in the Borough of Manasquan, Monmouth County BPU Docket No. GE03030162. PUBLIC HEARING Newark, New Jersey. May 21, 2003

REMARKS OF SEEMA M. SINGH, ESQ.
ACTING DIRECTOR AND RATEPAYER ADVOCATE
PRESENTED BY ELAINE A. KAUFMANN, ESQ.
ASSISTANT DEPUTY RATEPAYER ADVOCATE
DIVISION OF THE RATEPAYER ADVOCATE

I/M/O the Matter of the Petition of New Jersey Natural Gas Company for Approval of a Municipal
Franchise in the Borough of Manasquan, Monmouth County
BPU Docket No. GE03030162

PUBLIC HEARING
Newark, New Jersey
May 21, 2003
10:00 A.M.

Good morning. My name is Elaine Kaufmann, and I am an attorney representing the New Jersey Division of the Ratepayer Advocate. Our office was created by the New Jersey Legislature to represent ratepayers where a utility seeks an increase in rates or change in services.

New Jersey Natural Gas Company (NJNG or the Company) filed a petition on February 28, 2003 with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (Board or BPU) asking the Board to approve the franchise granted to the Company by the Borough of Manasquan (the Borough).

NJNG currently provides natural gas service within the Borough of Manasquan, and its current franchise with the Borough expired on May 19, 2002. The Company states that NJNG, through its predecessor Jersey Central Power & Light Company, has held its current franchise for fifty (50) years, since May 19, 1952. On January 13, 2003, the Borough passed a resolution that renewed NJNG’s franchise for five (5) years, from May 19, 2002 through May 19, 2007. NJNG accepted and agreed to the terms and conditions of the renewed franchise by letter to the Borough dated January 28, 2003.

Our office is actively monitoring this proceeding based upon the information that is being supplied and updated by the Company. However, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities will make the final decision regarding the Company’s franchise petition.

The purpose of this hearing is for you, the customer, to voice your opinion, relate your experiences and offer comments about your Company’s rates and any service problems you may be experiencing. It is important that you express your views so they may become part of the record on which the Board of Public Utilities makes its decisions. The Ratepayer Advocate also needs to hear your views. Your active participation is strongly encouraged to help in our evaluation of the Company’s proposal.

This hearing is being transcribed and your comments will become part of the record. I would like to reiterate the importance of your participation so that the Ratepayer Advocate can have a clear record of your concerns and interests.

On behalf of the Ratepayer Advocate, I would like to thank you for attending this hearing.