Two new commissioners join NJBPU board to expand focus on affordability and reliability

Emma Rebhorn and Joseph Coviello are the newest commissioners of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU), filling two vacancies on the five-member board.

Both commissioners were nominated to the NJBPU by former Gov. Phil Murphy and unanimously confirmed by the New Jersey State Senate Jan. 12.

The appointments come as the NJBPU works to implement Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s executive orders ensuring affordability is the centerpiece of state energy policy. Gov. Sherrill’s Executive Orders 1 and 2 focused on rate stabilization, regulatory reforms and rapidly deploying new generation, intended to reduce the financial burden on ratepayers while supporting infrastructure investments that will increase energy supply.

“Having a fully seated board again will help further enhance the NJBPU’s ability to address affordability while maintaining the reliability and safety of utility services our residents and businesses depend on,” NJBPU President Christine Guhl-Sadovy said.

Guhl-Sadovy said Rebhorn “brings a wealth of experience as an attorney working on energy policy issues and comes at a critical time for the state. Commissioner Coviello’s nearly decade of experience managing essential water utility infrastructure brings the operational expertise necessary to maintain stable, dependable systems across the state.”  

“Together, they strengthen our capacity to meet the needs of New Jersey’s utility customers and continue to support New Jersey’s economic competitiveness. The work ahead in 2026 demands both strategic vision and practical execution — particularly as we focus on reducing costs for ratepayers while ensuring system reliability. These appointments position us well to deliver on both fronts.”

Rebhorn is a clean energy policy expert with extensive experience in climate strategy. She most recently served as deputy executive director of the Climate Jobs National Resource Center (CJNRC), a national organization focused on advancing worker- and equity-centered climate solutions. In that role, she led national clean energy deployment campaigns, built inter-regional labor partnerships, and advised coalitions and labor unions to align clean energy deployment with labor standards, community benefits and environmental protections.

In addition, Rebhorn brings extensive litigation and corporate counsel experience in practice areas including antitrust, bankruptcy, civil rights, labor, and employment law, including as assistant general counsel to the United Steelworkers International Union, the nation’s largest private sector union, and as general counsel to Health Professionals and Allied Employees (HPAE), New Jersey’s largest union of nurses and health professionals. 

Coviello brings extensive operational and infrastructure management expertise to the Board. As Deputy Executive Director of the Jersey City Municipal Utilities Authority (JCMUA), Coviello has overseen one of New Jersey’s largest public utility systems, managing water and sewer services for nearly 300,000 Jersey City residents.

At JCMUA, Coviello’s responsibilities included day-to-day operations, long-term capital infrastructure planning, and administration of major contracts and compliance programs. He previously served as acting executive director, where he championed initiatives including Jersey City’s green infrastructure incentive program and advanced water meter modernization projects. Since joining JCMUA in 2017, his career has included advancement through senior management, including earlier service as director of public affairs.  

Commissioners Rebhorn and Coviello join President Guhl-Sadovy and Commissioners Dr. Zenon Christodoulou and Michael Bange on the five-member board.