SPARTA, N.J. — The New Jersey Property Taxpayers Coalition has formally requested that the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) and the Division of Rate Counsel launch a comprehensive investigation into the recent widespread power outages that left hundreds of thousands of New Jersey residents without electricity, including thousands in Sussex County.

In a letter sent to both agencies, the Coalition called for a thorough audit of utility reliability, infrastructure investment, emergency response, staffing levels, and regulatory oversight. The Coalition also requested public hearings and the development of a formal action plan to improve the reliability of New Jersey's electrical system due to ongoing power outages that have been occurring for several years.

"New Jersey residents pay some of the highest utility rates along with the highest property taxes in the nation," said Robert D. Kovic, Esq., Founder of the New Jersey Property Taxpayers Coalition. "Families deserve electrical service that is reliable. They are not getting that. When prolonged power outages become routine and put families and businesses in crisis, utility companies and regulators must be held accountable."

Kovic also recently spoke with Bethany Rocque-Romaine, Esq., of the Division of Rate Counsel regarding the Coalition's concerns and potential next steps for addressing the recurring utility failures affecting New Jersey ratepayers on a larger scale, including legal possible action.

"The Rate Counsel's Office exists to protect consumers, and we appreciate the opportunity to have spoken with them," Kovic said. "This issue does not simply disappear once the lights come back on. New Jersey families deserve answers and meaningful corrective action. The Rate Counsel seems to be actively trying to address these ongoing problems.”

The Coalition stated that the letter marks the beginning of a broader statewide effort to improve electric reliability and ensure greater accountability from monopoly utility providers and state regulators.