As temperatures drop, New Jersey households are facing another kind of chill: Higher energy bills.
Utilities across the state are warning that electricity costs will climb again this fall, continuing a trend that’s straining family budgets year after year.
Across the country, similar stories are unfolding. CBS reports that rate hikes are becoming more frequent, with utilities across the country citing infrastructure and reliability upgrades as justification, even as consumers see little improvement in service.
According to another report, electricity prices in New Jersey have surged 19% in the past year, leaving many residents searching for answers. Some have blamed the growth of data centers, but the real drivers are costs and market decisions made by the big utility companies themselves. Families shouldn’t be asked to pay more while monopoly utilities avoid accountability for how they manage resources and set rates.
On the other hand, states like Massachusetts are taking a harder look at these issues. Governor Maura Healey has ordered a review of gas and electric costs to identify ways to lower prices and hold utilities accountable.
New Jersey should follow that lead and conduct a thorough, public examination of how investor-owned utilities like PSE&G and Atlantic City Electric have been spending ratepayers’ money and whether it has delivered the benefits they promised. It’s long overdue.
We need policies that protect families, reward efficiency, and ensure fairness. New Jerseyans deserve an energy system that keeps the lights on without emptying their wallets.
The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ROI-NJ.
