NJ Assembly and Senate Announce Joint Public Hearings to Address Rising Utility Costs

TRENTON- Senate President Nick Scutari and Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin recently announced that the state legislature will convene joint public hearings to examine the reasons why residents are facing higher utility bills and to explore legislative solutions.

 "New Jersey families are struggling under the weight of rising bills,” said Senate President Scutari (D-Union, Somerset). “That is why we are joining with our Assembly colleagues to dig deep into what’s driving these price hikes, examine the impact on households and businesses, and explore avenues for relief. We cannot allow these costs to spiral out of control unchecked. This effort will work to bring transparency, accountability, and long-term stability to utility pricing, ensuring New Jerseyans are not left shouldering an unsustainable financial burden."

Hearings have not yet been scheduled and no official action has been taken.

 In February, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities announced that starting in June 2025, utility costs are set to rise by up to 20%. This would apply to costs for electricity supplied to most residents and small-and medium-sized businesses. The announcement followed the annual electricity auction for Basic Generation Services. 

"With utility rate increases straining household budgets, we must take a hard look at what’s driving these costs. Moving forward, the Assembly is committed to examining this issue from every angle and exploring all possible avenues for relief,” said Assembly Speaker Coughlin (D-Middlesex). “As always, our goal remains to ensure that New Jersey residents and businesses are protected and that utility costs are affordable for all. I look forward to continued discussion with colleagues and stakeholders as we work together on thoughtful solutions that prioritize our residents and the affordability of our state."

Multiple factors contributed to the increase, including increases in the Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Maryland Interconnection (PJM) -determined cost of capacity. The PJM is the Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Maryland Interconnection, the name of the organization that manages the electric grid for 13 states and the District of Columbia. PJM is a regional transmission organization (RTO) that coordinates the buying, selling, and delivery of electricity. The February announcement comes after New Jersey residents, particularly in South Jersey, saw utility bill price hikes last summer.

 "The mounting pressure of higher utility bills is a real concern for New Jersey families. That’s why I am proud to work together with members of both houses, to conduct a careful review of the factors contributing to these cost increases,” said Senator Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen, Passaic), Chairman of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. “We need to assess the ways in which we can make energy costs more predictable and manageable for the people of New Jersey. The aim is to foster a transparent and balanced dialogue on how best to protect our communities from rapid price increases."

 The hearings will be held within the coming weeks, officials said.

"Addressing the rising utility costs that burden New Jersey families has been a key priority throughout my career, and I remain committed to tackling this issue head-on,” said Assemblyman Wayne P. DeAngelo, Chair of the Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee, (D-Mercer, Middlesex). “We will take a thorough look at the causes behind these increases and work tirelessly to identify solutions that protect consumers and ensure fair, affordable access to essential services."

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