Side by side (NJ, EIA-861)
| Metric | Public Service Electric & Gas (PSE&G) | Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 average price, ¢/kWh | 20.42 | 15.65 |
| 2023 average price, ¢/kWh | 18.83 | 14.00 |
| Annual cost at 10,800 kWh, $/yr | $2,205 | $1,690 |
| Residential customers (2024) | 1,966,950 | 964,802 |
| Ownership | Investor-owned | Investor-owned |
| Fixed monthly charge (URDB) | $6.00/mo | $4.27/mo |
| Energy rate range, $/kWh (URDB) | 0.247–0.292 | 0.161–0.230 |
| Counties served in NJ | 14 | 13 |
Average price = residential revenue ÷ sales (bundled service): the all-in price customers actually paid, including supply, delivery and riders. Profiles: Public Service Electric & Gas (PSE&G) · Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) · New Jersey overview.
Where the territories meet
Both utilities file EIA-861 service territory in: Burlington · Essex · Mercer · Middlesex · Monmouth · Morris · Passaic · Somerset · Union counties (NJ, 2024).
Adjoining or overlapping territory in a county does not mean households there can pick between the two — service maps are parcel-level and fixed. The county overlap mainly matters when choosing where to live or comparing town-level costs.
Can you actually choose between them?
No — not for delivery. Distribution territories are exclusive and set by address; Public Service Electric & Gas (PSE&G) and Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) do not compete for the same meters. New Jersey does have retail supply choice: customers of either utility may buy the supply portion from a licensed third-party supplier, or stay on the utility's default supply rate. An offer only saves money if it beats your utility's price to compare (printed on the bill); compare offers at nj.gov/njpowerswitch. The price gap above mainly matters when choosing where to live, comparing towns, or benchmarking your bill.
Questions people ask
- Is Public Service Electric & Gas (PSE&G) cheaper than Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L)?
- No — in 2024 Public Service Electric & Gas (PSE&G) customers averaged 20.42 cents/kWh versus 15.65 for Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) (EIA-861). Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) was cheaper by 4.77 cents, about $515 per year at 10,800 kWh.
- Can I switch from Public Service Electric & Gas (PSE&G) to Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L)?
- No — distribution territories are exclusive and set by address; you cannot pick between the two wires companies. New Jersey does allow supply choice: either utility's customers can shop the supply portion at nj.gov/njpowerswitch if an offer beats the utility's price to compare.
- Why is Public Service Electric & Gas (PSE&G) more expensive than Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L)?
- EIA-861 averages reflect everything customers actually paid — supply costs, delivery rates, riders, and surcharges across each territory. Differences in generation mix, grid investment, storm costs, and customer density between PSE&G and JCP&L territory all feed the 4.77-cent gap.