TRENTON, N.J. — Electric rates in New Jersey are poised to spike by as much as 20% this summer, as Republican lawmakers tore into the Murphy administration’s energy policies during a six-hour legislative hearing last week.
Key Points
- Assemblymen Paul Kanitra and Alex Sauickie criticized the Murphy administration for prioritizing green energy over affordable electricity.
- Board of Public Utilities head Christine Guhl-Sadovy admitted climate goals are taking precedence over cost concerns.
- Multiple offshore wind projects remain stalled, while natural gas and nuclear options have been reduced.
Assemblyman Paul Kanitra questioned Board of Public Utilities President Christine Guhl-Sadovy over the administration’s approach, pressing her on whether affordability had taken a backseat to environmental ideology. Guhl-Sadovy conceded that climate priorities remain central to the administration’s plans, even as ratepayers brace for higher bills.
“What’s really driving your sky-high utility bills?” Kanitra asked during the hearing, pointing to stalled projects and grid congestion. He argued the state failed to capitalize on existing energy infrastructure and dismissed reliable options in favor of renewables that have yet to deliver.
Assemblyman Alex Sauickie added that New Jersey’s energy supply issues stem from decisions to scale back nuclear energy and natural gas. “They’re chasing megawatts when we lost terawatts,” he said, referencing the capacity gap left by shuttered plants and unbuilt wind projects.
PJM, the regional grid operator, confirmed that multiple offshore wind projects supported by the state remain in the interconnection queue, unable to come online. These delays, combined with a reduced energy mix, are contributing to rising costs for consumers.
The Murphy administration has faced increasing scrutiny for its green energy ambitions amid ballooning energy rates. The average household is expected to see a 17% to 20% jump in electricity bills starting this summer.
In the hearing’s most pointed exchange, Kanitra accused the administration of “squandering opportunities to lower costs,” saying political ideology had “overshadowed practical solutions.”
New Jersey ratepayers are bracing for sticker shock as stalled wind projects and shuttered power sources drive costs sky-high.