ROEBLING, NJ — The Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors of New Jersey (PHCC-NJ) is calling on the state Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to take a closer look at possible cross-subsidization between electric and gas utilities and their unregulated subsidiaries in the appliance installation and repair business.

Association representatives have held recent meetings with both BPU staff and with the public advocate to present instances of what they believe to be improper support being given by New Jersey’s largest utility, Public Service Electric and Gas (PSE&G), to its unregulated service arm.

PHCC New Jersey has also pointed out areas of utility operation that it says merits regulatory scrutiny. Utilities Committee chairman Mike Dolan said the association wants to know if utilities are using rate revenues to shoulder a disproportionate share of the cost of truck and equipment, parts and warehousing, insurance, billing operations, and advertising programs that they also provide to their service companies.