TRENTON, NJ — New Jerseyans will soon be paying for electricty based on their economic wealth, and not necessarily how much power they actually pull from the electric grid, according to a new equity based pricing fee by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities.
Former GOP gubernatorial nominee Jack Ciattarelli blasted New Jersey Democrats Tuesday, calling out “equity pricing” for utility bills as the latest “dumb idea” from Trenton and promising sweeping energy policy changes if elected governor.
In a new campaign ad and public statement, Ciattarelli criticized the concept of adjusting electric bills based on household income instead of usage, calling it unfair.
“When I’m governor, the days of Trenton Democrats raising taxes, wasting our money, and ruining our state are over,” Ciattarelli declared in his ad, promising to cut spending, cap property taxes for families, freeze them for seniors, and dismantle Governor Phil Murphy’s energy policies.
Key Points
- Ciattarelli criticized “equity pricing” for utilities and pledged to reverse it
- He vowed to seek the resignation of all current BPU commissioners on Day 1 if elected
- Promises include investing in natural gas and nuclear energy, withdrawing from RGGI, and halting offshore wind projects
Ciattarelli targets BPU leadership over rising electricity costs
Citing data from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) website, Ciattarelli claimed that electricity rates in the state have risen between 46% and 65% over the last five years. He noted that all four current BPU commissioners — Christine Guhl Sadovy, Zeon Christodoulou, Marian Abdou, and Michael Bange — were appointed by Governor Murphy.
“The policies adopted by the current BPU leadership have been an abysmal failure and New Jerseyans are paying the price with higher utility bills,” Ciattarelli stated, pledging to call for the commissioners’ resignations immediately upon taking office.
Campaign promises focus on reshaping New Jersey’s energy future
Ciattarelli outlined a plan to overhaul New Jersey’s Energy Master Plan by investing in clean natural gas and nuclear power to boost in-state energy production and lower costs. He pledged to withdraw New Jersey from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), end the offshore wind program, and abandon government mandates for electric vehicles and appliances.
“From the offshore wind farm boondoggle to the big government electric vehicle mandates to an equity pricing scheme, New Jersey Democrats have created an energy crisis in our state,” Ciattarelli said.
Election focus sharpens as Ciattarelli promises aggressive reforms
Positioning himself against what he called Murphy’s “radical energy agenda,” Ciattarelli vowed to make New Jersey affordable again by rooting out waste and cutting unnecessary government spending, tying energy policy directly to the state’s broader economic challenges.
Jack Ciattarelli is sharpening his campaign pitch with bold pledges to gut New Jersey’s current energy policies and bring sweeping reforms to Trenton.