PSE&G has just received the green light from the Board of Public Utilities for the proposed Energy Strong project, which is expected to increase bills by $4. PSE&G President and COO Ralph LaRossa told NJTV News Anchor Mary Alice Williams that the project will actually help consumers save money in the long run.

“We’ve been trying to say all along during this process is that the total bill will go down during this time frame for two major reasons,” said LaRossa. “One is that we’re enjoying the benefits of being so close to Marcellus Shale and natural gas prices have come down in the region.”

LaRossa said that customers will save money for two reasons — the price of gas and energy prices on the electric grid are decreasing and surcharges on consumer bills are expiring.

With the Energy Strong proposal getting the green light, LaRossa says that he is satisfied that PSE&G is starting with the project, but that he is never satisfied until the company is able to help every single costumer.

Now with the approval, LaRossa said that the first step will be working on gas pipes that were flooded and under water during Superstorm Sandy. A major focus on the electric grid is PSE&G’s substations and switching stations. Raising them above flood plains is under consideration, according to LaRossa.

“I would still want to do something for our customers that experienced overhead outages,” LaRossa said. “Areas like Montclair and East Orange, where they have backyard services, we want to bring those to the front or find a different way to service those areas.”

LaRossa said that the needs will be addressed by improving the substations.

While LaRossa is pleased that PSE&G is moving ahead with Energy Strong, he wishes more could be done.

“Certainly we think we’re providing basically a menu for people to choose from as to what we should work on and how quickly and then at the end of the day, we try to meet in the middle and I think in this case we did,” said LaRossa. “I just wish we could have helped all of the consumers.”