New Jersey Natural Gas Receives Approval for Its Largest Ever Energy-Efficiency Program

Rhea-AI Summary

New Jersey Resources (NJR) announced the approval of a $259 million expansion of its energy-efficiency program, The SAVEGREEN Project^®, by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. This initiative aims to enhance sustainability and emissions reduction for residential, multi-family, and commercial customers. Expected benefits include a reduction in natural gas usage by over 125 million therms and the elimination of 663,102 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions. The program will begin on July 1, 2021, and is designed to make energy efficiency accessible to low- and moderate-income households.

Positive

• Approval for a $259 million investment in energy efficiency over three years.
• Expected to reduce natural gas usage by over 125 million therms, aiding sustainability efforts.
• Programs targeting low- and moderate-income households to enhance accessibility to energy efficiency.

Negative

• Initial estimated annual increase of $21.30 (1.9%) on heating bills for typical residential customers.

New Jersey Resources (NYSE: NJR) announced its principal subsidiary New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG) received approval from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to significantly expand its energy-efficiency offerings available through The SAVEGREEN Project^® (SAVEGREEN). The program will further its commitment to sustainability and emissions reduction by helping customers lower their energy usage, save money and reduce their carbon footprint. NJNG is authorized to invest $259 million over the three-year program to provide solutions to residential, multi-family and commercial customers to help make energy efficiency affordable.

“NJNG continues to take action on our commitment to sustainability with the largest energy-efficiency program in our company’s history – building on our proven record of voluntary emissions reduction, and investing to build the clean energy future,” said Steve Westhoven, President and CEO of New Jersey Resources. “This significant expansion of our energy-efficiency efforts will allow us to provide even more customers with powerful tools and resources to save energy, lower their bills and reduce emissions for the benefit of the environment.”

The investment consists of approximately $127 million of direct investment, $109 million in financing options and $23 million in operation and maintenance expenses. The initial annual increase for the typical residential heating customer using 1,000 therms per year is estimated to be $21.30 or 1.9% for the first year of the program.

The program positions NJNG to meet or exceed its annual energy-efficiency reduction targets set by the New Jersey Clean Energy Act. If fully subscribed, the program will help NJNG customers save more than 125 million therms of natural gas over the [three-year] program's lifetime. This equates to preventing the release of 663,102 metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere – the same as removing 142,886 cars from New Jersey roadways each year.

Beginning July 1, 2021, NJNG will roll out energy-efficiency programs under SAVEGREEN that include enhanced features for low- to moderate-income customers and a broad range of programs to meet the diverse needs of the commercial and industrial sectors, including restaurants, small offices, convenience stores and other independent businesses. In addition, the program reflects new legislative provisions that shift administration of some programs from the state-run New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program™ to the utilities and requires that all New Jersey utilities collaborate to provide core offerings that are consistent throughout the state. This requires a new and innovative approach for NJNG to work directly with the electric utilities, Atlantic City Electric and Jersey Central Power & Light, whose service territories overlap with those of NJNG.

SAVEGREEN’s core programs will include:

Residential

• Rebates and incentives, including a 0% on-bill repayment program, for qualifying equipment replacement and home energy improvements
• Rebates and incentives for the installation of energy-efficient appliances, as well as the continuation of NJNG’s discounted online marketplace
• No-cost, energy-efficiency kits to income-eligible households as a gateway to other energy-efficiency and conservation programs

The program also puts energy efficiency in reach for low- and moderate-income customers by providing opportunities to help reduce their energy bills. In addition to special incentives and longer payment terms to help make energy-efficiency upgrades affordable, the program will offer: lower-cost measures that can provide immediate savings to renters and homeowners; a no-cost energy checkup; distribution of energy-efficiency kits in collaboration with local foodbanks and community organizations and a no-cost, moderate-income weatherization program. NJNG and other New Jersey utilities also are exploring ways to streamline the screening process to make it easier for eligible low- and moderate-income customers to participate.

Multi-family

• Customer engagement and education, energy assessments, installation of standard energy-saving measures, retrofit projects, engineered solutions as well as prescriptive and emergency equipment replacement
• Access to an on-bill repayment program for the above measures, including extended repayment terms, for low- and moderate-income and affordable housing properties

With multiple program opportunities and paths to energy efficiency, NJNG will work collaboratively with multi-family dwellings to conduct a structured energy assessment of the premises to identify the best program fit to meet the needs of the customer, as well as develop a project plan to ensure maximum participation and benefits.

Commercial and Industrial

• On-bill repayment option for the installation of energy-efficient equipment and special incentives for custom energy-efficiency measures
• No-cost energy assessment, upfront costs and a repayment option to help small businesses, non-profit organizations, schools, faith-based organizations and other entities overcome the barriers to energy efficiency
• Continuation of the successful Engineered Solutions program that provides tailored assistance and incentives to help make it affordable for public service entities, such as municipalities, universities, schools, hospitals and healthcare facilities to invest in energy efficiency
• An energy management program to target energy savings by providing a holistic approach to improving building energy performance through maintenance, tune up and retro-commissioning services for existing buildings

Since the inception of SAVEGREEN in 2009, NJNG has invested nearly $220 million in energy-efficiency programs, generating more than $488 million in economic activity in its service territory while contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Over the last decade, nearly 64,000 customers have participated in SAVEGREEN, and the program has grown the green energy economy in New Jersey for the more than 2,875 contractors who have participated in the program.

All estimates of energy savings set forth above are generalized, and no particular amount of energy savings is promised or guaranteed. Terms, conditions and qualifications apply to all rebates, incentives and the on-bill repayment program.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. NJR cautions readers that the assumptions forming the basis for forward-looking statements include many factors that are beyond NJR’s ability to control or estimate precisely, such as estimates of future market conditions and the behavior of other market participants. Words such as “anticipates,” “estimates,” “expects,” “projects,” “may,” “will,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “should” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements and such forward-looking statements are made based upon management’s current expectations, assumptions and beliefs as of this date concerning future developments and their potential effect upon NJR. There can be no assurance that future developments will be in accordance with management’s expectations, assumptions and beliefs or that the effect of future developments on NJR will be those anticipated by management. Forward-looking statements in this release include, but are not limited to, certain statements regarding NJNG’s energy-efficiencies offerings through The SAVEGREEN Project, NJR’s environmental, sustainability and clean energy goals and emission reduction targets, customer savings and the annual impact on a typical residential heating customer.

Additional information and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from NJR’s expectations are contained in NJR’s filings with the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including NJR’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, recent Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other SEC filings, which are available at the SEC’s web site, http://www.sec.gov. Information included in this release is representative as of today only and while NJR periodically reassesses material trends and uncertainties affecting NJR's results of operations and financial condition in connection with its preparation of management's discussion and analysis of results of operations and financial condition contained in its Quarterly and Annual Reports filed with the SEC, NJR does not, by including this statement, assume any obligation to review or revise any particular forward-looking statement referenced herein in light of future events.

About New Jersey Resources

New Jersey Resources (NYSE: NJR) is a Fortune 1000 company that, through its subsidiaries, provides safe and reliable natural gas and clean energy services, including transportation, distribution, asset management and home services. NJR is composed of five primary businesses:

• New Jersey Natural Gas, NJR’s principal subsidiary, operates and maintains over 7,500 miles of natural gas transportation and distribution infrastructure to serve over half a million customers in New Jersey’s Monmouth, Ocean, Morris, Middlesex and Burlington counties.
• NJR Clean Energy Ventures invests in, owns and operates solar projects with a total capacity of more than 357 megawatts, providing residential and commercial customers with low-carbon solutions.
• NJR Energy Services manages a diversified portfolio of natural gas transportation and storage assets and provides physical natural gas services and customized energy solutions to its customers across North America.
• Storage and Transportation serves customers from local distributors and producers to electric generators and wholesale marketers through its ownership of Leaf River Energy Center and the Adelphia Gateway Pipeline Project, as well as our 50 percent equity ownership in the Steckman Ridge natural gas storage facility, and our 20 percent equity interest in the PennEast Pipeline Project.
• NJR Home Services provides service contracts as well as heating, central air conditioning, water heaters, standby generators, solar and other indoor and outdoor comfort products to residential homes throughout New Jersey.

NJR and its nearly 1,200 employees are committed to helping customers save energy and money by promoting conservation and encouraging efficiency through Conserve to Preserve® and initiatives such as The SAVEGREEN Project® and The Sunlight Advantage®. For more information about NJR: www.njresources.com.

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FAQ

What is the SAVEGREEN Project by NJR?

The SAVEGREEN Project is an energy-efficiency initiative by New Jersey Resources that aims to help customers reduce energy usage and save money.

How much is NJR investing in energy efficiency?

New Jersey Resources is investing $259 million in energy efficiency over a three-year period.

When will the SAVEGREEN energy efficiency programs start?

The SAVEGREEN programs are set to roll out on July 1, 2021.

What are the expected environmental benefits of the SAVEGREEN Project?

The project aims to reduce over 663,102 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to removing 142,886 cars from the road each year.

What is the estimated impact on residential heating bills from the new program?

The typical residential heating customer will see an estimated increase of $21.30 per year, or 1.9%.