JCP&L electric rates: New Jersey's lowest average price, longer outages
JCP&L's 955,852 default-service customers in New Jersey paid an average of 18.39¢ per kWh in 2025, for an average bill of $144.81 a month on 788 kWh.1 Over the last 12 months (Sep 2025–Aug 2026) the average was 19.32¢, and 20.55¢ in August 2026.2 Another 91,835 homes on its wires (8.8%) buy their supply elsewhere and pay JCP&L delivery charges averaging 4.90¢ per kWh, plus their supplier's price.
EIA-861 2025 final (released October 7, 2026) and EIA's monthly utility survey through August 2026 (preliminary); next monthly update expected November 24, 2026. Averages are revenue divided by kWh, all charges included: not the rate printed in a tariff.
13 of 21 New Jersey counties served (EIA-861 2025)
JCP&L had the lowest average residential price of New Jersey's large utilities in 2025, 18.39¢ per kWh, even after a 17.5%1 rise in one year. Its homes use more electricity than most in the state, so the bill is not the lowest, and its customers spent far longer without power: 391 minutes on average in 2025, against a state average of 155 minutes8.
JCP&L's average price per kWh: 2025, last 12 months, latest month
Jersey Central Power & Light Company (JCP&L) delivers electricity to 1,047,687 homes in central and northern New Jersey, 28.2% of the state's residential customers. 955,852 of them also took their supply from JCP&L in 2025 on default service, and those homes paid an average of 18.39¢ per kWh. That was the lowest of the 5 New Jersey utilities with 10,000 or more default-service homes and 18.2% below the New Jersey average1.
EIA builds that number by dividing JCP&L's residential default-service revenue by the kWh sold to those homes. Wires, generation supply, the monthly customer charge and riders all sit inside it, so it will not match any single line of JCP&L's tariff. Homes on a third-party supplier are left out of it and appear in their own section further down.
For something more recent, EIA's monthly sample of large utilities puts JCP&L at 19.32¢ per kWh for the 12 months September 2025 to August 2026 and at 20.55¢ per kWh2 for August 20263 by itself; the 2026 months are preliminary, and a single month moves with the season.
Among the 177 US utilities with 100,000 or more residential customers, JCP&L's 2025 average was the 46th highest of 177, against a median of 15.07¢ per kWh. Against investor-owned utilities nationwide it is close to the middle: 3.4% above the national average for investor-owned utilities1.
Cheapest kWh in New Jersey, not the cheapest bill
JCP&L's price advantage over its neighbors is large. In 2025, PSE&G default customers paid 25.03¢ per kWh and Atlantic City Electric customers 25.84¢ per kWh. The bills are much closer, because JCP&L's homes use more electricity: 788 kWh a month, against 561 kWh at PSE&G, 636 kWh1 at Atlantic City Electric and a state average of 670 kWh4.
The result for 2025: an average JCP&L bill of $144.81, slightly above PSE&G's $140.45 and below Atlantic City Electric's $164.27. A JCP&L home using as little as a typical PSE&G home would pay a higher average per kWh than 18.39¢ per kWh1, since the fixed monthly charge would be spread over fewer kWh.
Source: EIA-861 annual electric power industry report, 2025 final. EIA-861 2025 final. Average revenue per kWh is all charges divided by kWh; it is not a tariff rate.
Show the numbers
| Utility | average monthly residential bill |
|---|---|
| PSE&G (NJ) | $140.45 |
| JCP&L (NJ) | $144.81 |
| Atlantic City Electric (NJ) | $164.27 |
How much JCP&L's price rose in 2025
The default-service average went from 15.65¢ per kWh in 2024 to 18.39¢ per kWh in 2025, a rise of 17.5%. Use per home was almost unchanged (791 kWh and 788 kWh a month), so the bill rose at nearly the same pace, from $123.825 to $144.81 (+17.0%1). Statewide, New Jersey's residential average rose 16.2% over the same year, the 2nd highest6 increase of any state.
Source: EIA-861M monthly sales and revenue by utility; EIA, Electric Power Monthly / EIA-861M sales and revenue by state. Residential revenue divided by kWh in each month, as reported to EIA's monthly survey (EIA-861M; months since January 2026 preliminary). Bundled (default-service) customers only.
Show the numbers
| Month | JCP&L (¢/kWh) | kWh per customer | Bill per customer |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 2025 | 15.65¢ | 870 | $136.26 |
| February 2025 | 15.89¢ | 696 | $110.66 |
| March 2025 | 16.46¢ | 622 | $102.40 |
| April 2025 | 16.46¢ | 562 | $92.60 |
| May 2025 | 16.02¢ | 579 | $92.82 |
| June 2025 | 19.69¢ | 965 | $190.06 |
| July 2025 | 20.75¢ | 1,321 | $274.20 |
| August 2025 | 20.38¢ | 967 | $197.01 |
| September 2025 | 18.92¢ | 728 | $137.62 |
| October 2025 | 19.29¢ | 602 | $116.06 |
| November 2025 | 19.29¢ | 667 | $128.69 |
| December 2025 | 18.22¢ | 867 | $158.05 |
| January 2026 | 18.26¢ | 883 | $161.15 |
| February 2026 | 18.38¢ | 726 | $133.32 |
| March 2026 | 19.26¢ | 682 | $131.38 |
| April 2026 | 18.89¢ | 570 | $107.68 |
| May 2026 | 18.08¢ | 685 | $123.83 |
| June 2026 | 20.16¢ | 965 | $194.60 |
| July 2026 | 20.86¢ | 1,215 | $253.49 |
| August 2026 | 20.55¢ | 1,144 | $235.23 |
EIA's split by service points to supply rather than delivery: what JCP&L billed delivery-only homes per kWh fell over the same year (see below). JCP&L's default homes buy Basic Generation Service, whose residential prices, as the BGS auction's official overview explains, follow the results of a yearly statewide auction among wholesale suppliers. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's 2026 review reports that capacity payments in PJM, the regional grid New Jersey belongs to, added 0.9¢ per kWh to average wholesale costs in 2025, on top of wholesale energy costs up 1.7¢ per kWh7.
The latest data do not show a further step. In August 20263, JCP&L's average of 20.55¢ per kWh was +0.8%2 against the same month a year earlier; the figure is preliminary. LBNL expects capacity costs to add a further 0.6¢ per kWh7 to PJM wholesale costs in 2026, a projection in its review rather than a JCP&L rate.
July bills: the largest use of the three
JCP&L's summer peak is high. Over the last 12 months (September 2025 to August 2026), use per home ran from 570 kWh in April 2026 to 1,215 kWh in July 2026, more than at PSE&G (906 kWh) or Atlantic City Electric (1,025 kWh) in the same month. The average bill ranged from $107.68 to $253.49, and the 12-month average was $156.68 for 811 kWh2.
Source: EIA-861M monthly sales and revenue by utility. kWh per residential customer in each month (EIA-861M; months since January 2026 preliminary). The table adds the average bill and price for the month.
Show the numbers
| Month | kWh per customer | Bill per customer | ¢/kWh |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 2025 | 728 | $137.62 | 18.92¢ |
| October 2025 | 602 | $116.06 | 19.29¢ |
| November 2025 | 667 | $128.69 | 19.29¢ |
| December 2025 | 867 | $158.05 | 18.22¢ |
| January 2026 | 883 | $161.15 | 18.26¢ |
| February 2026 | 726 | $133.32 | 18.38¢ |
| March 2026 | 682 | $131.38 | 19.26¢ |
| April 2026 | 570 | $107.68 | 18.89¢ |
| May 2026 | 685 | $123.83 | 18.08¢ |
| June 2026 | 965 | $194.60 | 20.16¢ |
| July 2026 | 1,215 | $253.49 | 20.86¢ |
| August 2026 | 1,144 | $235.23 | 20.55¢ |
Outages: more than twice the state average
JCP&L customers averaged 391 minutes without power in 2025, counting major events, more than the New Jersey average of 155 minutes. Excluding major event days the figure was 234 minutes, still above the state's 96 minutes on the same basis. Customers had 2.21 interruptions on average, against 1.128 statewide. All figures follow the IEEE 1366 standard.
Source: EIA-861 2025, reliability. EIA-861 2025 final. Average revenue per kWh is all charges divided by kWh; it is not a tariff rate.
Show the numbers
| Utility | outage minutes per customer (all events) |
|---|---|
| PSE&G (NJ) | 66 |
| Atlantic City Electric (NJ) | 80 |
| JCP&L (NJ) | 391 |
EIA's reliability data record how long outages lasted, not why. The gap remains after major event days are removed, so it is not only a matter of the largest storms.
Buying supply elsewhere: JCP&L's delivery charges
Shopping is more common in JCP&L's area than at New Jersey's other two large utilities: 91,835 homes, 8.8% of its residential customers, bought supply from a third party in 2025, against 4.5% at PSE&G and 7.0%1 at Atlantic City Electric. JCP&L still owns the wires and bills them for delivery.
That delivery revenue, per kWh, was 4.90¢ per kWh in 2025 after 5.28¢ per kWh5 in 2024 (−7.2%); per shopping home it came to $39.87 a month for 814 kWh. It is one part of a bill, so it sits beside the default-service average rather than inside it, and a supplier's price is not added to it here. At PSE&G the same measure was 6.02¢ per kWh, at Atlantic City Electric 10.58¢ per kWh1.
Statewide, EIA's 2025 figure for what shoppers paid suppliers for the energy itself was 17.85¢ per kWh1, averaged over every plan and every supplier; it describes the past and is not a quote. How to switch, and back, is covered in retail choice in New Jersey.
Rooftop solar, smart meters and time-of-use
JCP&L homes had 59,252 net-metered solar installations in 2025, with 500.3 megawatts of capacity. Scaled to customer numbers that is 56.6 for every thousand homes, more than PSE&G's 47.9 and fewer than Atlantic City Electric's 113.49.
97.9% of JCP&L's residential meters were advanced meters in EIA's 2025 count. 12,882 residential customers, 1.2%, were enrolled in a time-varying rate, which JCP&L reported as time-of-use9; the hours and prices are set in JCP&L's tariff.
Where JCP&L delivers, and its FirstEnergy sister utilities
JCP&L reported customers in 13 counties in 2025: Burlington County, Essex County, Hunterdon County, Mercer County, Middlesex County, Monmouth County, Morris County, Ocean County, Passaic County, Somerset County, Sussex County, Union County and 1 other. Only 2 are JCP&L's alone; in the other 1110 a second utility also reports customers. A street address, checked against JCP&L's own territory map, settles which company serves a home.
Source: EIA-861 2025, service territory; Census Bureau, Cartographic boundary file, counties. EIA-861 2025 service territory: 13 counties. Counts whole counties even where the utility serves only part of one; check the utility's own service-area map for an address.
Show the numbers
| County | Other utilities reporting service |
|---|---|
| Burlington County | PSE&G, Atlantic City Electric, Borough of Pemberton |
| Essex County | PSE&G |
| Hunterdon County | none |
| Mercer County | PSE&G |
| Middlesex County | PSE&G, Borough of South River, Borough of Milltown |
| Monmouth County | PSE&G |
| Morris County | PSE&G, Borough of Butler, Borough of Madison |
| Ocean County | Atlantic City Electric, Seaside Heights Municipal Utility, Borough of Lavallette |
| Passaic County | PSE&G, Rockland Electric Co, Borough of Butler |
| Somerset County | PSE&G |
| Sussex County | Rockland Electric Co, Sussex Rural Electric Cooperative |
| Union County | PSE&G |
| Warren County | none |
JCP&L is FirstEnergy's only New Jersey utility. Across FirstEnergy's operating utilities with pages here, default-service residential averages in 2025 ran from 13.10¢ per kWh at Potomac Edison (West Virginia) to 18.77¢ per kWh1 at FirstEnergy Pennsylvania; the FirstEnergy page compares them.
Businesses on JCP&L's system averaged 17.16¢ per kWh (commercial) and 15.41¢ per kWh (industrial) in 2025, and 18.03¢ per kWh1 across every customer class. Households struggling with bills can look to LIHEAP, which had $134.6 million12 for New Jersey in fiscal 2026; our guide to help paying an electric bill sets out the programs.
JCP&L rates and bills: questions readers ask
What is JCP&L's rate per kWh?
JCP&L's residential customers on default supply paid an average of 18.39¢ per kWh1 in 2025 and 19.32¢ per kWh2 over the last 12 months (September 2025 to August 2026, 2026 months preliminary). These are averages of everything billed, delivery and supply, fixed charges and riders, divided by kWh. They are not a tariff line, and a home that uses little pays more per kWh than the average.
How much is the average JCP&L bill?
$144.81 a month in 2025 for 788 kWh1, up from $123.825 in 2024. Over the last 12 months (September 2025 to August 2026) the average was $156.68, from $107.68 in April 2026 to $253.49 in July 20262.
Did JCP&L rates go up in 2026?
The 12-month average to August 2026, 19.32¢ per kWh, is above the 2025 average of 18.39¢ per kWh1. The latest single month, August 20263, averaged 20.55¢ per kWh, +0.8%2 against the same month a year earlier (preliminary).
Who owns JCP&L?
Jersey Central Power & Light Company is a subsidiary of FirstEnergy, whose utilities serve Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia.
Related pages
Sources
- EIA-861 annual electric power industry report, 2025 final; table Sales_Ult_Cust_2025; 2025, final; released October 7, 2026. www.eia.gov
- EIA-861M monthly sales and revenue by utility; table sales_ult_cust_2025 and _2026; released October 23, 2026. www.eia.gov
- EIA, Electric Power Monthly / EIA-861M sales and revenue by state; table sales_revenue.xlsx (EPM Table 5.6.A); January 2001 to 2026-08; months since January 2026 preliminary; released October 23, 2026. www.eia.gov
- EIA-861 2025, average monthly bill by state; table Average_Bill_2025; 2025, final; released October 7, 2026. www.eia.gov
- EIA-861 annual electric power industry report, 2024 final; table Sales_Ult_Cust_2024; 2024, final (file updated December 3, 2025); released December 3, 2025. www.eia.gov
- EIA, Historical state data, annual sales, revenue and customers; table HS861 2010-.xlsx; 2010-2025, final; released October 7, 2026. www.eia.gov
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Retail Electricity Price Trends and Drivers; table July 2026 update; 2025 data. eta-publications.lbl.gov
- EIA-861 2025, reliability; table Reliability_2025; 2025, final; released October 7, 2026. www.eia.gov
- EIA-861 2025, advanced meters, dynamic pricing and net metering; table Advanced_Meters, Dynamic_Pricing, Net_Metering 2025; 2025, final; released October 7, 2026. www.eia.gov
- EIA-861 2025, service territory; table Service_Territory_2025; 2025, final; released October 7, 2026. www.eia.gov
- Census Bureau, Cartographic boundary file, counties; table cb_2025_us_county_5m; cb_2021_us_county_5m; 2025 (2021 for Connecticut). www.census.gov
- HHS, LIHEAP funding releases to states; table FY2027 first release; FY2026 final; FY2027 first release (October 9, 2026); FY2026 total; released October 9, 2026. acf.gov
How every figure is built: methodology. Found an error? Write to [email protected]; corrections are listed on the updates page.