Vicari Keeps Up Push For Utilities To Waive Fees, Bills For Displaced Superstorm Sandy Residents
Residents must call the Ocean County Department of Consumer Affairs to report their problems with utilities, county will advocate on their behalf
Don't take no for an answer. Call us.
That's the message Freeholder Joseph H. Vicari wants to get out to Superstorm Sandy victims who are still receiving utility bills, even though they may have lost their homes or been displaced.
"If they have an issue with a utility company, call us up," he said. 'We will do the best we can."
Residents need to call or e-mail the Ocean County Department of Consumer Affairs with their information before they county can act on their behalf, Vicari said. The phone is 732-929-2105. The fax is 732-506-5330. The e-mail is ConsumerAffairs@co.ocean.nj.us.
And he has no patience for utility officials who say they are billing customers fixed costs, not actual usage.
"I don't care," he said. "This is the worst storm in the history of Ocean County. We want to make it easier for who are suffering. We will be the advocate."
Vicari said he had been assured by JCP&L official Peter Johner that the company would make adjustments in bills for residents who had lost their homes or have been displaced since the Sandy roared into the county on Oct. 29.
But other utility companies, including gas, water and sewer utilities, may not have yet made adjustments in storm victims' bills, he said.
So residents need to call or e-mail the Ocean County Department of Consumer Affairs before the county can advocate for their individuals cases, Vicari said.
"We have to know," he said after a brief Ocean County Board of Freeholders meeting late Wednesday afternoon.
He estimated that roughly 10,000 Ocean County residents have lost their homes or are still unable to return.
And if some utility officials don't care for his comments, so be it, Vicari said.
"It doesn't make any difference," he said. "I can't be friends with everybody and I understand that."
Affected residents can e-mail Vicari's secretary at cbove@co.ocean.nj.us and provide their name, address and the utility.
Residents without internet access may still call Vicari's office at 732-929-2002, or the county Consumer Affairs Department at 929-2105.
"This is a major hardship," he said.
FAQall
11:16 am on Thursday, March 7, 2013
About time I hear a post like this. My bills are paid up my gas,water and electric has been shut off since 10-28-12 but yet I get a brick utility bill for 110 dollars. A gas bill for 80.00 and electric for 120.00. I have been using a generator for power in my wreck of a house. WTF are these companies crazy. The power company should be giving me thousands in credit for my lost food the generator And gas i bought and for the inconvenience I dealt with.
A Resident
12:11 pm on Thursday, March 7, 2013
Let me guess....you chose the "budget" plan of billing/paying. And that budget is a fixed amount every month of the year. So when you have a high useage month, you pay the lower budget amount. When you have a low useage month, you pay the same budget amount. So, based on the plan YOU chose, you have a monthly fee regardless of how much you use.
How is any of that the fault of a utility company?
Lori Morrison
2:09 pm on Thursday, March 7, 2013
Had no problem with JCPL or Verizon after the services were canceled. The water company is nothing but a group of leeches.
Resident of Lacey
2:35 pm on Thursday, March 7, 2013
RE: A Resident
I DID NOT opt-in to a budget plan and still receive bills and there is no usage. the bill makes no sence when you read it, no usage should not equal $60.00.
Please fill me in as to where I made the mistake? The gas company is still trying to justify it as well. They it is the fee to have the privilege of gas service. Yet they have never charged it before and there is nothing to use gas in the building, even the bill shows NO USEAGE!
Brian Wilson
11:22 am on Thursday, March 7, 2013
Shut Up! Just Shut Up!
Rich Wieland
11:56 am on Thursday, March 7, 2013
TR MUA gave me a credit for sewerage fees. Water, electric, gas and FiOS were turned off, so no bills. Still waiting for a temporary adjustment on my property tax for the time my house was uninhabitable, as promised by TR.
oldkodger
11:59 am on Thursday, March 7, 2013
the mafia always gets their VIG
Dainty
12:01 pm on Thursday, March 7, 2013
Thank you for advocating for the residents! They need all the support they can get. Its been 4 months of heck and feeling like you've been ignored. Continued success in your efforts! ty joan*
Garry Black
12:04 pm on Thursday, March 7, 2013
For those who are still getting these bills call o.c. c. a. thank you Joe Vacari
Taxed to death
12:12 pm on Thursday, March 7, 2013
When are the Bricktown property taxes going to reflect the "V" and "A" zone designations on our assessed values and taxes?
knarfie
4:30 pm on Thursday, March 7, 2013
Everybody in these new zones should file tax appeals due to decrease in property values if they are impacted by new flood insurance rates.
proud
5:00 pm on Thursday, March 7, 2013
@knarfie, they aren't new zones, YET. That is not to say that the property values haven't decreased dramatically.
kazoome
12:30 pm on Thursday, March 7, 2013
maybe I missed something.....how is it the utility companys problem ?......now if you dont have power yet and are not on a budget you shouldnt be getting bills.......the utility companys paid out big bucks to all those out of state workers making per diem and double time and lodging fees to get all the peoples power back on....everyone lost a freezer full of food and if you chose to run your generator then you saved the $500.00s in food everyone lost.....
I have spoken
10:01 pm on Thursday, March 7, 2013
Look at your utility bills real well...Franchise fees (goes to the town), taxes (goes to the state), facility fees (goes to the utility co), excise tax (goes to the USA). So it's kind of hard for them to charge you zero. Because the utility still has to pay those fees to be in that town, state and of course the USA.
Call BPU at 1-800-624-0241
FAQall
1:04 pm on Thursday, March 7, 2013
Not on a budget. Using a generator because my outlets were under water. Don't need a fire or to get electrocuted. As for out of state workers and lodging everyone will see who's going to pay for them not the power co. It will be us.
kazoome
3:09 pm on Thursday, March 7, 2013
why wouldnt fema step up and help
kazoome
3:12 pm on Thursday, March 7, 2013
and of course the people will pay for it anyway.....we always do....they will just raise our taxes,or take away something
1stcav
4:57 pm on Thursday, March 7, 2013
JCP&L has a one way sign on monies, when they make it it's oneway into THERE bank account, when they lossit , it's oneway into YOUR bank account..Three Mile Island there fault, we paid in Highet bills as well as sur charges forever, until they were in the black again.Then they didn't give us a break and they were back to big profits at our cost..Rate increase every time they want it as they don't want to go into thier huge profits at ALL......Always let the customers pay again , for them not upgrading or being prepaired, that might cost someone there golden parachute of Millions when there ready to retire....TO bad , were tired of this one way
Company ( FIRST ENERGY- in there minds not ours )in NJ , but living beyond there means in Ohio .....
kazoome
5:08 pm on Thursday, March 7, 2013
welcome to corporate america.......every big company is the same way
I have spoken
9:55 pm on Thursday, March 7, 2013
People the last entity you should be calling is Consumer Affairs. They have no bite, their WORTHLESS. You need to call the Board of Public Utilities at 1-800-624-0241
See, Vicari doesn't want you to call the BPU because, where do the GOP has-beens go....The Toms River Municipal Authority or the Brick Municipal Authority. Vicari doesn't want his patronage pit to be mad at him with your complaints.
shorecorruption
10:32 pm on Thursday, March 7, 2013
What was the final tonnage on what Ashbritt brought to The Ocean County landfill.At $86.00 a ton should be like Christmas.
Halpha2
1:38 am on Friday, March 8, 2013
I love reading all of your barbaric posts to eachother.Its like a game of who is right or who can try to prove the other wrong. Its not a matter of opinion in here anymore it is a complaint and vent site. Halpha2 signing off. Good luck ortley in your secession (never happening). Av keep the jug handy. Martin your view of the ocean wont be blocked. Barbara.....geesh. 1stcav, keep rambling. Peace!!!
Lori Noel Lewkowitz
2:44 am on Friday, March 8, 2013
Cablevision was pretty good. They said they wouldn't charge me for the equipment that Sandy had stolen. LOL. I still have an Optimum online email account, even though I'm using Comcast online services these days. But every month Cablevision sends me a bill with a $000.00 balance due. I wish they would save the paper and postage.
mr henry
2:57 am on Friday, March 8, 2013
Vicari should put his money where his mouth is and have the county waive all construction permit fees for sandy victims ...
Missing Brick
4:42 am on Friday, March 8, 2013
We started a petition to JCP&L about the monthly bills that came after Sandy (minus usage charges that of course did not come) and seemed few were aware at that time they will still get these bills.
The only bill that stopped coming for me (even after multiple calls) was Fios. The rest kept on billin'.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/jcpl_sandyreparations/signatures
Chris D.
6:14 pm on Friday, March 8, 2013
George Gilmore financed Mayor Amato's campaign last year, and recieved township attorney. Amato chose Ashbritt for clean up & his friend George Gilmore got the commission on the deal. George Gilmore is on the Ashbritt payroll.
Its over!
6:19 pm on Friday, March 8, 2013
By the way speaking of JCP&L did anyone submit a food claim to them for food loss, power was out here for about 3 1/2 weeks.