New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
| New Jersey Board of Public Utilities | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Nonpartisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $175,000 |
| 2025 FY Budget: | $64,950,000 |
| Total Seats: | 5 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | 6 years |
| Authority: | New Jersey Revised Statutes, Title 48, Section 2-1 |
| Selection Method: | Appointed by Governor |
| Current Officeholder(s) | |
| Marian Abdou, Michael Bange, Zenon Christodoulou, Christine Guhl-Sadovy | |
| Other New Jersey Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Comptroller• Commissioner of Education • Agriculture Secretary • Insurance Commissioner • Commissioner of Environmental Protection • Labor Commissioner • Public Utilities Board | |
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities is a five-member board in the New Jersey state government responsible for regulation of natural gas, electricity, water, telecommunications, and cable television.
The mission statement of the board is as follows:
"To ensure that safe, adequate, and proper utility services are provided at reasonable, non-discriminatory rates to all members of the public who desire such services. To develop and regulate a competitive, economically cost effective energy policy that promotes responsible growth and clean renewable energy sources while maintaining a high quality of life in New Jersey. "[1]
Current officeholders
The current officeholders are:
- Marian Abdou (nonpartisan)
- Michael Bange (nonpartisan)
- Zenon Christodoulou (nonpartisan)
- Christine Guhl-Sadovy (nonpartisan)
One seat is vacant. It was last held by Mary-Anna Holden (nonpartisan).
Authority
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities' authority is derived from Title 48, Section 2-1a of the New Jersey Revised Statutes:
| The Board of Public Utilities, named pursuant to Reorganization Plan No. 001-1994, effective on July 4, 1994, and allocated in, but not of, the Department of the Treasury pursuant to that plan, is continued and is designated as the Board of Public Utilities or the "board."[2] |
Qualifications
Title 48, Section 2-1b establishes the qualifications of the office:
| The board shall consist of five citizens of this State who shall devote their entire time to the duties of the board and shall not engage in any occupation, profession or other gainful employment.[2] |
Appointments
The members of the board are appointed to six-year terms by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate. No more than three commissioners may be members of the same political party.[2]
Vacancies
In the event of a vacancy, the governor, with the advice and consent of the New Jersey State Senate, makes an appointment for the rest of the unexpired term.[2]
Duties
The board oversees and regulates utilities, such as natural gas, electricity, water, telecommunications, and cable television. State law requires the board to ensure proper services be made available safely and at a reasonable rate for New Jersey customers.[3] According to the board's website:
| “ |
|
” |
Additionally, according to the state website, the board "is considered a quasi-judicial body, meaning that it functions similar to the court or judge. Anyone may file a petition (or a request for action) asking the Board to consider a matter within its jurisdiction."[3] Following the submission of a petition, the board may decide to retain the matter and hold a hearing on the case or hand the petition to the Office of Administrative Law. In both instances, the case may involve discovery, testimony, briefs, and/or public hearings. Decisions made by the board in such a manner may be appealed to the New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division.[3]
Divisions
The board is organized into the following divisions:[5]
- Administration
- Audits
- Cable TV
- Clean Energy
- Communications
- Customer Assistance
- Energy
- Office of the Economist
- Office of Policy & Planning
- Reliability & Security
- State Energy Services
- Telecommunications
- Water
State budget
- See also: New Jersey state budget and finances
The budget for the Board of Public Utilities in Fiscal Year 2025 was $64,950,000.[6]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
The salaries of state executive officials are determined by the New Jersey State Legislature.[7]
2023
In 2023, each commissioner received a salary of $175,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[8]
2022
In 2022, each commissioner received a salary of $175,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[9]
2021
In 2021, each commissioner received a salary of $175,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2020
In 2020, each commissioner received a salary of $175,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2019
In 2019, each commissioner received a salary of $125,301, according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2018
In 2018, each commissioner received a salary of $125,301, according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2017
In 2017, each commissioner received a salary of $125,301, according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2016
In 2016, each commissioner received a salary of $125,301, according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2015
In 2015, each commissioner received a salary of $125,301, according to the Council of State Governments.[16]
2014
In 2014, each commissioner received a salary of $125,301, according to the Council of State Governments.[17]
2013
In 2013, each commissioner received a salary of $141,000.[18]
2010
In 2010, each commissioner received a salary of $141,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[19]
Contact information
New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
44 S. Clinton Avenue
Trenton, NJ 08625
Phone: 1-800-624-0241
Email: Online Contact Form
Historical officeholders
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities has not yet been added because the information was unavailable on the relevant state official websites, or we are currently in the process of formatting the list for this office. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms New Jersey Public Utilities Board. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
| New Jersey | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ New Jersey Board of Public Utilities website, "Mission Statement," Jan. 19, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Justia, "2019 New Jersey Revised Statutes Title 48 - Public Utilities, Section 48:2-1" accessed Jan. 19, 2021
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 [http://www.state.nj.us/bpu/about/index.html New Jersey Board of Public Utilities website, "About NJBPU," accessed Jan. 19, 2021
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ New Jersey Board of Public Utilities website, "Divisions," accessed Jan. 19, 2021
- ↑ State of New Jersey, "Appropriations Handbook: Fiscal Year 2024-2025," accessed January 21, 2025
- ↑ Justia, "2019 New Jersey Revised Statutes Title 52 - State Government, Departments and Officers Section 52:14-15.107," accessed Jan. 19, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2023 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 21, 2025
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 22, 2022
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States, 2020, Volume 52," Sept. 30, 2020
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2019," accessed Jan. 19, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2018," accessed Jan. 19, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2017," accessed Jan. 19, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed December 3, 2014
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Table 4.11 Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 31, 2014
- ↑ The Council of State Governments, "The Book of States 2010 Table 4.11," accessed June 22, 2011
| |||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
 |
State of New Jersey Trenton (capital) |
|---|---|
| Elections |
What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2025 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures |
| Government |
Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy |
