Storm Costs: One Way or Another You Will Pay For It

The Jersey utility companies, even including the currently infamous JCP&L, say that all power is restored.  Hallelujah!  Interesting catch 22: though thousands of customers laid out piles of cash for lodging, repairs, ruined food, gasoline for generators and the like, they ain't seen nothing yet!  The board of Public Utilities says that because storm costs aren't included in the basic rate you pay, the Utilities can recover storm costs from you. PSE&G claims 42 million was spent after Irene, so Heaven alone knows how much they will claim for Saturday's storm. JCP&L says Irene cost them 78 million. No word so far there either on the current storm costs.

So as Yogi Berra famously said, "It ain't over 'till it's over."  And customers, it ain't over.  Not by a long shot.