THE SCOOP

The Devils are battling for their playoff lives. But the hill to climb is only getting steeper as the teams around them continue to win, making it difficult to gain any ground. The Devils currently have 58 points in 55 games played. That puts them seven points out of the final Metro Division slot and nine for the last Wild Card position.

The Devils are entering a critical stretch this week ahead of the Olympic break. They have two home games, both against Metro opponents that New Jersey is chasing. To really remain within a viable shot at earning a postseason berth, the Devils will likely need to win both games this week and ideally in regulation. Anything less than a four-point swing would really put the Devils in a hole.

The Blue Jackets are in a similar situation. They have three more points than the Devils (61), but also have a lot of ground to make up in either the Metro or Wild Card. Columbus has two games this week, Tuesday in New Jersey and Wednesday at home against Chicago.

Columbus being in the playoff hunt has been a surprised. The team entered January well out of the playoffs and began the month with a 1-3-1 run. Things looked bleak. But a head coaching change has caused a surge in Columbus. Rick Bowness stepped in on Jan. 12 in place of Dean Evanson. The Blue Jackets are 8-1-0 under Bowness and 9-1-0 overall in their last 10 contest. That points run has catapulted Columbus from the bottom of the standings into a fighting chance.

Zach Werenski continues his play as the most underrated defenseman in the NHL. While Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes steal the headlines, it is Werenski that leads the League’s blueliners in scoring with 60 points (t-Evan Bouchard). Werenski’s 19 goals are also tied for the most in the NHL while his 41 assists rank fourth (tied).

The state could pause electric distribution rate hikes — but it’s not clear how long that would last

In addition to supply charges, which utilities pass along to consumers without earning a profit, utilities charge customers for delivering electricity to their homes and building and maintaining grid infrastructure.

Since this is where the profit lies and utilities are afforded a monopoly, the companies have to periodically ask the Board of Public Utilities for permission to increase these delivery rates. Sherrill’s order directs the board to consider pausing these proceedings.

The board is currently considering a request from Rockland Electric Company in North Jersey to raise the typical household’s monthly bill by as much as $29. A spokesperson for the board did not answer questions about whether and for how long it plans to pause cases like this one by press time.

“The [Board of Public Utilities] often has a clock on which they have to act,” Silverman said. “It’s very difficult for them to just sit there and hold these [proceedings] in abeyance, but now they have the … governor telling them to do that.”

Silverman said the board will need to make “tough choices,” as it needs to balance the long-term need for grid maintenance and growth with the need to reduce short-term costs. He said Sherrill’s executive order shows the governor is prioritizing “immediate rate relief” for customers.

Lipman, who advocates for utility customers in rate cases before the board, said his office has not been told that the Rockland Electric rate case is on pause, so it is continuing to hire experts, issue discovery and prepare testimony.

“We’re moving forward as if the case is moving forward,” he said.

Lipman expects utilities to file other petitions with the board this year seeking smaller increases, usually no more than a few dollars on the typical customer’s monthly bill, to recover costs from replacing wires, hardening infrastructure or making energy-efficiency improvements.

“Those are the ones that I think are likely going to be paused or strung out a little bit more than they would have in the past,” Lipman said.

But Lipman worries such a pause could simply delay the bill hikes, essentially putting them “on the credit card.” He said the state would be “hard pressed legally” to deny the companies reimbursement for certain investments.

“So we’ll say to the utilities, ‘We won’t give you an increase in 2026, but we’ll give you either a bigger increase in 2027, or we’ll pay interest,” he said. “That’s what I’m really concerned about.”

Representatives for PSE&G, Atlantic City Electric and JCP&L all did not respond to questions about any bill increases they plan to seek approval for in the coming year. All three provided statements that acknowledged the need for energy affordability and indicated they are willing to work with Sherrill. Rockland Electric’s parent company, Consolidated Edison, did not respond to a request for comment.

By Eric D. Brophy

Transactions like Netflix’s merger with Warner Bros. always have a far-reaching impact, but for New Jersey’s growing film industry, the stakes are especially high.

In recent years, the state has become a production powerhouse, with over 550 shoots in 2024 adding $833 million in investment and more than 30,000 jobs to the state’s economy.

Netflix keeps working to ensure that this growth is just the beginning.

Last May, the company broke ground on its first major East Coast production hub at Fort Monmouth. When finished, it will house 12 cutting-edge soundstages totaling nearly 500,000 square feet with investments north of $1 billion.

Even before the studios are complete, Netflix is at work in the Garden State. Over the past year, they have filmed nearly 20 titles in the state, and they are currently shooting two feature films here, employing more than 500 people, both in front of and behind the cameras.

The economic gains from this kind of local production activity can be massive. The 64 days Netflix spent shooting “Happy Gilmore 2″ in the state added a whopping $153 million to New Jersey’s economy, what with 400 crew members, 400 local vendors, and 3,000 extras hired for the shoot.

And that’s just a single project. Last year, the company also filmed “The Rip,” “A House of Dynamite,” “The Beast in Me,” “Office Romance,” and “The Whisper Man,” all in New Jersey.

Netflix’s financial position and all-cash deal for the historic Warner assets will establish a well-financed, focused company positioned to grow, produce, and excel.

With Warner Bros., Netflix will be able to bring even more production, innovation, and local jobs to New Jersey.

The deal will create a host of creative and commercial opportunities that go beyond film and television workers, but expand to caterers, drivers, make-up artists, and many more industries.

But most importantly for New Jersey, the Warner Bros.’ Board of Directors approved the Netflix offer because, together, these two companies are committed to executing a stable, long-term plan to produce and distribute great shows and films.

For us, that equates to increased production in New Jersey and a thriving and prosperous film and television industry.

All of America stands to gain from the Netflix-Warner transaction.

For New Jersey, the stakes are even higher.

Calling your elected representative in the state Assembly or Senate is the most effective way to influence policy. To find your state Assembly member and Senator to voice your position, go to the New Jersey Legislature website’s Legislative Roster.

Eric D. Brophy is chair of the CSG Law Government & Regulatory Law Group and former deputy chief of staff for Economic Growth for the Murphy administration.