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With Winter Weather Approaching, Rockland Electric Company Offers Money-Saving Tips and Programs to Help Customers Prepare

  • Orange & Rockland Media Relations

  • Pearl River – November 10, 2025 -- 10:00 AM

As temperatures begin to drop, energy affordability remains a priority for all New Jerseyans, and Rockland Electric Company (RECO) is offering programs to help customers with their bills, while also sharing tips to save money by conserving and using energy efficiently.

 

Winter Energy Costs

As a result of increased Basic Generation Service (BGS) supply charges, RECO projects that its electric bills will be higher this winter, with a typical RECO residential customer using 925 kWh per month this winter is expected to see a bill increase of $42.95 from $203.77 to $246.72, a 21.1% increase over last winter.

RECO purchases electricity for its customers for the majority of its load through an annual BGS auction. This is the mechanism that the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) requires all the state’s electric utilities to use to secure the electric supply requirements for their customers. Through the auction, New Jersey’s electric utilities buy a portion of their electric supply over a three-year period --- one auction per year.

 

Payment Assistance Options


RECO offers Billing and Payment Plans, including Budget Billing, which smooths out costs throughout the year so that customers can pay off balances over time, rather than all at once.

RECO also connects income-eligible customers with energy bill assistance programs offered through New Jersey. Among those programs are:

 

 

Additional Bill Assistance Provided


The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) recently expanded the Universal Service Fund (USF) program, which ensures participants pay no more than six percent of their annual income for gas and electric service. The expansion raises minimum monthly credits to $20 and raises the maximum combined benefit to $200 per month. RECO can now assist customers with their USF applications.


RECO also collaborated with the NJBPU on the Residential Universal Bill Credit, an energy bill relief package to help offset increased charges on the supply portion of customer bills. This allowed RECO to implement two $50 residential customer bill credits in both September and October.

The relief package also includes opportunities for additional credits for households eligible for the Residential Energy Assistance Payment (REAP) program. Income-eligible households will receive an extra $175, split into $25 monthly payments running through February 2026. For more information about REAP, click here.

 

Savings Through Energy Efficiency Programs


The best way for customers to take control of their bill is to manage their use of electricity. RECO offers NJBPU-approved clean energy programs aimed at achieving significant energy savings and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. These programs are designed to benefit all customers, particularly those with low-to-moderate incomes.

Energy Conservation is Critical

The least expensive and most environmentally friendly energy is the energy that is not used. Customers can also save money on energy by following these energy saving tips.

  • Set thermostats at the lowest comfortable temperature. Each degree higher increases heating costs.
  • Clear area around heating and cooling vents. Carpets, furniture, and other objects can block vents and prevent heated air from circulating in your home.
  • Have a qualified contractor clean and inspect heating systems.
  • Insulate hot-water pipes and warm-air ducts that pass through unheated areas. Clean or replace filters for the hot-air furnace and heat pump.
  • Swap out window shades seasonally. Light-colored window coverings reflect the sun's energy, while darker ones absorb it and release heat.
  • Replace conventional light bulbs with LED bulbs, which are up to 10 times more efficient, and widely available.
  • Unplug electronics when they’re not in use. Some high-energy devices like computers, televisions, and game consoles use electricity even when they’re turned off.

About Rockland Electric Company


Rockland Electric Company (RECO) is a regulated electric utility that serves approximately 75,000 customers in parts of Bergen, Passaic, and Sussex counties in New Jersey. Rockland Electric is a wholly owned subsidiary of Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc., which in turn is owned by Consolidated Edison, Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

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