New Jersey Natural Gas customers in Ocean, Monmouth, and parts of Morris, Middlesex, Sussex and Burlington counties will pay 8.9 percent less to heat their homes next winter, the utility announced. The savings start October 1 and add up to about $158 a year for the typical household.
Unfortunately, the cut may not last long. At the same time the company asked state regulators to lower bills, it also asked for permission to raise its delivery rates by 12.7 percent later in the winter. If that request is approved, the savings could be wiped out before the heating season ends.
The utility filed both requests with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities on June 1. The lower bills come from a regular yearly filing tied to the cost of buying natural gas. The rate hike is a separate request, meant to cover about $950 million the company says it has already spent on upgrades to its pipes, equipment and computer systems.
State regulators usually take nine months to a year to review rate increases of this kind. That means any approved hike most likely would not take effect until late winter, around the time most people stop running their heat. The company said it chose that timing on purpose so customers would not feel the increase during the coldest months. By the end of the process, the company expects average bills will be close to where they are today.
“By strategically managing our gas supplies, NJNG is able to bring our customers meaningful bill savings for this upcoming winter heating season,” said Steve Westhoven, the president and chief executive of New Jersey Natural Gas, in a statement.
This is not the first big rate change in recent years. In November 2024, state regulators approved a $157 million increase that took effect in late 2025. Several lawmakers, including U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, criticized that decision, calling it roughly a 16 percent hike on more than half a million New Jersey families.
Customers who need help paying their bills can visit njng.com/energyassistance, call 800-221-0051 or email energyassist@njng.com.
