Key Points
- Utility rates in New Jersey are expected to rise up to 20% beginning in June.
- GOP senators blamed Democrat-led energy policy and offshore wind initiatives.
- Senate Republicans proposed a new bill to prioritize in-state energy sources.
TRENTON, N.J. — Senate Republican Leader Anthony M. Bucco and Senate Republican Whip Michael Testa launched sharp criticism Thursday against what they described as a “one-sided” legislative hearing on New Jersey’s escalating energy costs, warning that the state’s energy policy is driving utility rates dangerously high.
The hearing followed the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities’ recent announcement that residents could face utility rate hikes of up to 20% starting in June. Both senators were newly appointed to the legislative committee examining the hikes and voiced frustration over what they called a lack of balance in the proceeding.
“I think what we learned today is that despite the warnings from various industry experts, PJM, and the rate counsel, this failed energy policy from the administration and the Democrat-controlled Legislature is causing rates to go up and our residents are going to feel it,” Bucco said at a press conference. He cited statements from the state rate counsel warning that soaring prices may soon force residents to make health-related trade-offs.
Testa echoed Bucco’s concerns, condemning the state’s push toward offshore wind and renewable energy initiatives. “We called the Energy Master Plan the Energy ‘Disaster’ Plan,” Testa said. “Instead we went with really bad expensive, intermittent forms of energy that are going to be placed on the backs of the taxpayers and the ratepayers of New Jersey.”
Senate Republicans are backing new legislation in response, introducing the “Energy Security and Affordability Act” (S-2839). The bill would require the NJBPU to prioritize local energy sources over subsidized out-of-state projects and would mandate full economic and ratepayer impact reviews before energy plans are implemented.
The legislation aims to address mounting public concern over energy affordability, which has become a key political issue amid the state’s transition to renewable sources. Republicans argue that the transition has lacked economic foresight and has overburdened ratepayers.
The NJBPU has not issued a formal response to the criticism or the proposed legislation. The agency has previously defended its energy transition goals as necessary for long-term environmental and economic sustainability.
Bucco and Testa insisted that warnings about the economic impacts of New Jersey’s Energy Master Plan were ignored for years, despite objections from Republican legislators and utility experts. The senators pledged continued opposition to rate hikes and urged broader bipartisan discussion on energy policy.