By Frank Brill, EnviroPolitics Editor
New Jersey lawmakers from both parties are sounding the alarm over escalating energy costs, but their views on the root causes—and the best solutions—couldn’t be more different. Two recent hearings on energy affordability underscored the growing urgency of the issue, while highlighting stark partisan divides over how to address it.
In a joint legislative hearing this week, Democratic members of the Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee and the Senate Select Committee grilled executives from the state’s four major utility providers—PSE&G, JCP&L, Atlantic City Electric, and Rockland Electric—over rising rates set to hit customers in June. Lawmakers demanded greater accountability, questioning whether utilities could do more to shield residents from rate hikes.
“Our constituents are having to choose between paying for electricity and paying for food or medicine,” said Assemblywoman Andrea Katz (D-Atlantic, Burlington). “We need real ideas, not vague answers.”
Assemblyman Dave Bailey (D-Cumberland, Gloucester, Salem) pressed utility leaders on whether modest reductions in their return on investment could ease financial burdens on consumers. Others questioned the influence of PJM Interconnection—the organization responsible for managing the region’s electric grid—arguing that delays in integrating clean energy projects have constrained supply and driven prices up.
Meanwhile, Republican Senators Michael Testa (R-01) and Carmen Amato, Jr. (R-09) criticized what they called the Democrats’ “Energy Disaster Plan,” accusing the majority party of pushing aggressive energy mandates without considering grid reliability or economic impact.
“Democrats gambled on an energy plan that was utopian in ideas but dystopian in results,” said Sen. Testa. “Now, with public outrage escalating and energy bills surging, they’re scrambling to shift blame.”
Sen. Amato echoed the sentiment: “They bet on alternative energy sources and lost. Instead of accountability, we get political theater and broken promises.”
Senate Republicans have introduced legislation aimed at correcting course. The “Energy Security and Affordability Act” would require the state’s Energy Master Plan to account for energy diversity, security, and affordability, and mandate detailed impact analyses before greenlighting major projects. Sen. Testa also recently introduced S4285, calling for the abolition of the Board of Public Utilities (BPU), citing its failure to protect ratepayers. Sen. Amato has called for energy sales tax windfalls to be returned to consumers.
Despite their differences, lawmakers from both sides agree that affordability must be prioritized. Assembly Democrats have advanced several bills to help, including the recently signed A4817, which creates an “Energy Bill Watch” program that lets smart meter customers track usage and set alerts to manage their energy bills more effectively.
With June rate increases looming, the pressure is mounting on Trenton to find common ground—or risk leaving New Jersey residents and businesses stuck with the bill.
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