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TRENTON, N.J. – Following today's release of PJM Interconnection's Base Residual Auction (BRA) results for the 2026/2027 delivery year, the Ó£»¨ÊÓƵ Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) reaffirms its commitment to protecting ratepayers from the ongoing PJM-cost crisis while demanding systemic reforms to prevent future price shocks.

"While it will take some time to analyze today's results stemming from PJM's BRA, Ó£»¨ÊÓƵ families are already living with the consequences of PJM's broken market," said NJBPU President Christine Guhl-Sadovy. "While the PJM-auction results reach new highs and reflect PJM's flawed market design, due to some changes that NJBPU advocated for, we don’t anticipate a comparable bill impact as we did this summer at this time.”

PJM's BRA, conducted July 9-15, 2025, procured a total of 146,244 megawatts of capacity. The price came in at the FERC-approved cap, $329.17/MW-day, for the entire PJM footprint. The BRA operated under new price constraints established earlier this year—a $325 per megawatt-day ceiling and $175 per megawatt-day floor—following advocacy from Ó£»¨ÊÓƵ and other states like Pennsylvania after last year's BRA's devastating 833 percent price increase to $269.92/MW-day for the 2025/2026 auction for most of the PJM region. The NJBPU will release more information on the BRA in the coming weeks.

(The auction cleared at the FERC-approved price cap of $329.17/MW-day for Unforced Capacity (UCAP), the specific metric used in this auction. This reflects the maximum price allowed under the recently established rules, which included a base ceiling of $325/MW-day).

Just last week, Governor Phil Murphy joined eight other governors in a bipartisan call for fundamental changes to PJM's leadership and governance structure. The coalition—including governors from Maryland, Virginia, Michigan, Illinois, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and Tennessee—represents the majority of PJM's 67 million customers.

Additionally, the NJBPU will host a hybrid Resource Adequacy Technical Conference on August 5, 2025, at The College of Ó£»¨ÊÓƵ. Industry experts, consumer advocates, and policymakers will examine:

• PJM Market design improvements to reduce price volatility
• PJM Interconnection queue reform strategies
• Long-term transmission planning enhancements
• Consumer protection mechanisms

Unprecedented Consumer Relief Measures Continue

The historic $430 million consumer assistance package remains in effect to mitigate the PJM-cost increases ratepayers experienced this summer:

• Enhanced Low-Income Support: Income-qualified customers eligible for up to $275 in bill credits; $25 bill credits for all will start in August-February. The $175 on top of the $100 has not yet been approved by the Board and will likely be rolled out in September/October.
• Payment Flexibility: Interest-free $30 July and August deferrals, repaid over lower-electric usage months.
• Universal Bill Relief: All 3.9 million residential customers of PSE&G, JCP&L, ACE, and RECO slated to receive $100 in direct bill assistance.
• Strengthened Safety Net: Universal Service Fund monthly credits increased from $5-$180 range to $20-$200 range, helping families earning up to $92,000 annually.

Ó£»¨ÊÓƵ residents looking to reduce their costs can access savings immediately through:

• Energy Efficiency Programs: Free home weatherization, appliance rebates, smart thermostats.
• Community Solar: Open to all residents, including renters, with guaranteed savings.
• Payment Assistance: Enhanced through recent NJBPU reforms.
• Conservation Tips: Simple actions like adjusting thermostats and closing blinds during peak hours can help save money.

For assistance, visit or contact your utility provider directly.

About the Ó£»¨ÊÓƵ Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU)

NJBPU is a state agency and regulatory authority mandated to ensure safe, adequate and proper utility services at reasonable rates for Ó£»¨ÊÓƵ customers. Critical services regulated by NJBPU include natural gas, electricity, water, wastewater, telecommunications and cable television. The Board has general oversight and responsibility for monitoring utility service, responding to consumer complaints, and investigating utility accidents. To find out more about NJBPU, visit our website at .