By Maria Prato-Gaines, Staff Writer
MONROE — Around 100 seniors crowded into the Rossmoor community ballroom Wednesday, all looking for explanations of a recent spike in their electricity bills from their local legislator, state Sen. Bill Baroni.
The majority of the senior community’s residents reside in electrically heated and cooled homes.
Ken Meyers, chairman of the Rossmoor Energy Conservation Committee, the organization sponsoring the discussion, said his energy bill shot up from an average $350 per month to $837 in the middle of winter.
”This year the increase has gone up so high it’s difficult to understand why,” he said.
Sen. Baroni said his constituents in Rossmoor have been keeping him up-to-date on the current electric bill crisis.
”I got calls this last winter from people who were living in one room (of their house). They have to close a significant number of rooms because they can’t pay their bill. That’s unacceptable!” he said, slamming his fist on a podium.
Sen. Baroni said he is calling for an investigation by of the Board of Public Utilities and Ratepayer Advocate after hearing about large bonuses being paid to utility company executives, coupled with a number of his district’s residents complaining about significant increases in their electric bills.
”I want to know whether or not my constituents are being fleeced,” Sen. Baroni said. “If we don’t do anything about it, we’re at fault.”
Sen. Baroni said he’s looking into and sponsoring various pieces of legislation that could ultimately benefit residents who are making an effort to be energy efficient.
”We all have to play a part in reducing our dependency on traditional sources of power,” he said.
There has been legislation that allows private groups and businesses to contract with utility companies. Sen. Baroni said he believes this option should be extended to the public, schools and hospitals as well.
He also hopes for legislation that would allow homeowners to deduct energy-efficient upgrades, such as solar panels, from their taxes, as opposed to the current system, which ultimately raises their taxes as a result of the upgrades increasing the property value, he said.
Additionally, Sen. Baroni said consumers should be rewarded for buying energy-efficient appliances.
Bill S1778, which was introduced in May and is sponsored by Sen. Baroni, would provide sales and use tax exemptions for the purchase of certain Energy Star labeled residential lighting and appliances.
Similar legislation he is sponsoring includes bill S1550, which exempts hybrids and certain fuel-efficient vehicles from sales tax.
”It’s buy green, save green. I want New Jersey to be the center of green buying,” he said.
Residents were given a window of opportunity to voice their concerns with Sen. Baroni.
A few suggested that Rossmoor make a trek into the solar energy category, either through the panels or a recently developed shingle.
Others were curious as to why rate discounts and price breaks through utility companies for seniors and electric powered homes had disappeared.
Still, some were looking for a breakdown of charges.
”Here’s my problem with the electric bill — good luck reading it,” Sen. Baroni said in response. “I want to make utility bills more reader friendly and not just for power but communication companies, too.”
The energy committee hopes to have a second meeting with Sen. Baroni in mid-summer to discuss any progress that he has made.
”I’m delighted at the response he’s provided,” Mr. Meyers said. “But the proof will be in the pudding with his follow-up.”
”He seems to be one of the few legislators who’ve taken an interest in doing something, and listens to what our problems are,” he said about Sen. Baroni.
Mr. Meyers is hoping that neighboring senior communities will begin to form their own energy committees to begin looking at the issues plaguing their residents, investigate energy efficient alternatives and reach out to their local and state representatives for answers.
”We have to look at the short term and long-term solution,” he said.

