Jessica Cheng

Meet the AARP New Jersey team here.

In the face of a more competitive electricity marketplace driven by a natural gas boom that has lowered energy prices, the nuclear power industry has seen a decrease in their payments for the power generated by their nuclear power plants. As a result, PSEG, Exelon, and other energy corporations are waging a campaign to increase our electric bills by forcing ratepayers to pay subsidies to increase the profitability of their aging nuclear power plants.

The NJ Board of Utilities, (BPU), which regulates utility companies in New Jersey, has proposed changing their rules in a way that could harm every gas and electric customer in the Garden State. The BPU wants to allow utilities to increase your rates provisionally; before your utility company has actually proven they even need a rate increase and that a price hike is reasonable. Under this scheme, utilities implementing provisional rates would have to refund customers if the price finally approved by is less than the provisional rate. the BPU

Fall is known for leaves changing, apple picking, and many more fun outdoor activities. Equally important is that fall is the time for Medicare Open Enrollment. So this year grab a pumpkin spice latte and take time to look over your Medicare options whether this is your first year eligible for Medicare, the first year you are enrolling in Medicare, or if you already have a Medicare plan. This is also the time to review your options and potentially change them.

Under a bipartisan federal law passed in 2009, Congress has designated September 11th as the National Day of Service and Remembrance to mark the way our country came together as a nation after the terror attacks 16 years ago. Each year individuals, communities, and organizations in every state across the country come together united through volunteerism and service honoring the victims of 9/11.

As New Jersey residents begin to prepare for Fall festivities and holiday activities, the AARP New Jersey Fraud Fighters, a team of AARP volunteers who meet every month to call AARP members and warn of scams, are acutely aware of the increased vulnerability to identity theft and financial fraud, and are warning members.

With summer just around the corner, AARP New Jersey wants to help you get the most out of your membership! Whether it’s enjoying a day out at the ball park with family and friends, or a night of theater out on the town, New Jersey is home to some of the best entertainment around, and we’ve got you covered!

AARP Livable Communities supports the efforts of cities, towns, counties, and states to provide safe, walkable streets; age-friendly housing and transportation options; access to needed services; and opportunities for residents to participate in community activities. This work is driven by research that shows the vast majority of people age 50 and older want to stay in their homes and communities for as long as possible. Well-designed, livable communities promote better health and sustain economic growth, and they make for happier, healthier residents — of every age, in all life stages.

Identity theft, investment fraud and scams rob millions of Americans of their hard-earned money every year. Research shows that more than $20 billion was stolen from about 13 million victims in 2012, according to the latest Javelin Strategy and Research reports on identity fraud. Older adults tend to be bilked out of about $3 billion every year. Con artists use a myriad of scams to steal your hard-earned money, including phishing scams, tech-support scams, gold coin scams, oil and gas scams, sweepstakes and lottery scams, grandparent scams and many more. Although their methods are different, research shows that the tactics scammers use are the same. Find out how to protect yourself and your family from con artists’ latest tricks. Go to aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork, or call 1-877-908-3360 for more information.