15-05-2025
NJ Governor Murphy proposes solutions to rising utility costs
TRENTON, N.J. – AJ Shah and his son, Eric, own an engineering business in Bridgewater. With a little more than two weeks to go until a statewide utility rate hike, they say they have little to do.
'I don't have a choice,' said AJ Shah. 'I'm not cutting down, so I'm just going to pay more, that's it. I'm going to cut somewhere, so of course I'm going to cut money somewhere else but that's one I don't have control.'
More Local News
'Not good, right?' said Eric Shah. 'It's already been going up, I'd rather have it back down or back the way it was years ago.'
On Wednesday, Governor Phil Murphy announced a suite of executive actions to address electricity prices.
Per his Administration, he is urging New Jersey's electric utilities to:
Voluntarily expand the Winter Termination Program, which prevents service disconnections in the winter months, to July-September, which JCP&L included in their filing, and;
Suspend reconnection fees to a certain date past the summer peak usage months.
Other actions include:
Directing the NJBPU to evaluate all available funding and programming to stabilize utility bills,
Directing the NJBPU to expedite opening another Competitive Solar Incentive Program Solicitation and Community Solar Energy Program Capacity Block by the end of 2025.
Directing the NJBPU to open a new proceeding on resource adequacy. Within this proceeding, BPU will:
Evaluate proposals to swiftly bring more generation online.
Continue to determine how New Jersey can best achieve its reliability, equity, and clean energy objectives while keeping costs to consumers as low as possible, and whether New Jersey best serves the regional capacity market administered by PJM Interconnection.
Identify policy opportunities to mitigate increased ratepayer costs due to demand growth driven by data center proliferation in the PJM region.
'While the utilities are not responsible for the rate increases, they have a responsibility to protect ratepayers,' Murphy said in a statement. 'It's clear that New Jersey's four hometown electric utilities need to deliver more reasonable options. We ask that utilities share the load and commit to being part of the solution to the PJM cost crisis. These utilities have reaped billions in profits over the last ten years. My administration will continue to identify and put all options on the table to mitigate rate increases.'
In response to Murphy, Atlantic City Electric, which covers much of Southern New Jersey, told PIX11 News a statement:
'We share Governor Murphy's affordability concerns as we head into the summer months. While utility companies in New Jersey do not generate their own energy, do not set the price of electricity, and do not profit from these increases, we fully understand that rising energy costs stemming from PJM's 2024 Capacity Auction are a challenge for our customers. That is why our plan submitted to the BPU last week included deferring costs past the summer months to help soften the impact. Atlantic City Electric is currently reviewing the governor's announcement, but we remain committed to working together with Governor Murphy, the BPU, other utilities, PJM, generators, and customers, to be part of a path forward that supports the area's growing energy needs and manages bill impacts, while continuing to provide safe, reliable and resilient energy to our customers. Meanwhile, we will continue to offer a comprehensive energy efficiency program, rebates for energy efficient HVAC equipment and appliances, discounted energy saving products, flexible payment arrangements, and an Assistance Finder tool to help qualifying customers access various local, state, and federal energy assistance programs.'
More Local News
PIX11 also received a statement from Rockland Electric Company, which serves parts of Bergen, Passaic and Sussex Counies:
'As we approach the summer months, Rockland Electric Company is committed to working with the BPU to keep bills affordable for our customers in northern New Jersey,' said Michele O'Connell, Rockland Electric Company president and CEO. 'We work with all our customers, connecting them to various programs designed to help them lower the costs of their bills and become more energy efficient.'
JCP&L spokesman Chris Hoenig told PIX11 News:
'JCP&L understands the concerns that many New Jersey families are facing due to increasing rates from electric suppliers. While it is not JCP&L's delivery rates that are rising, we include and collect these charges on the monthly electric bills, and we are committed to assisting our customers through this time. In fact, JCP&L proposed the expansion of the winter shutoff moratorium to incorporate peak summer use months in our recent filing to the Board of Public Utilities.
We encourage our customers to reach out to us if they are having trouble paying their bill, so that we can connect them with available assistance or payment plans. Our energy assistance outreach teams will continue to get out into the communities we serve. We also encourage our customers to utilize our energy efficiency programs, which consist of programs that offer easy to implement tips as well as large-scale, whole home offerings, giving customers the power to take control over their energy use.'
Anthony D'Aniello, owner of Manville Pizza, says energy is his biggest monthly expense. He shays he wouldn't be surprised if businesses like his, at some point, end up passing the cost onto the customer.
'We can only absorb it so much as a retailer,' said D'Aniello. 'You guys are going to see it something as simple as pizza as well.'
Rates are set to go up on June 1st.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
