Small and medium-sized businesses in a wide area of New Jersey would be shortchanged by both electric industry restructuring proposals now being considered in New Jersey, PP&L EnergyPlus Co. said Wednesday (4/7), advocating a more equitable distribution of savings among electric customers.

"We believe that small and medium-sized businesses, which make up an important segment of the state's economy, should have a better chance to save money when the New Jersey electric generation market is deregulated," said John Cotter, senior vice president of marketing for PP&L EnergyPlus Co.

PP&L EnergyPlus filed comments with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities advocating more equitable "shopping credits" for small and medium-sized commercial and industrial customers in the Public Service Electric & Gas Co. service territory.

"We recognize the substantial efforts of the New Jersey legislature, the Board of Public Utilities and the parties to both settlements for advancing the cause of retail electric competition in New Jersey," said Cotter.

"However, neither proposed settlement now under discussion does what is necessary to build a robust competitive electricity market for all types of customers," Cotter said.

"As a leading advocate of electric customer choice -- and as a company already supplying thousands of businesses with competitively priced energy -- we understand how important it is that all customers share in the savings that electric restructuring can provide," Cotter said.

PP&L EnergyPlus is one of the largest suppliers of retail electricity in Pennsylvania. Unlike some other suppliers, PP&L EnergyPlus has significant experience serving business and commercial customers in a competitive retail environment.

PP&L, Inc., the parent company of PP&L EnergyPlus, already participates in the New Jersey wholesale electricity market, supplying up to 10 percent of the electricity used in New Jersey.

"Our goal is to ensure that all customers in New Jersey -- including small and medium-sized commercial and business customers -- are treated fairly and have an opportunity to save money in a vibrant and robust competitive electricity market," Cotter said.