NJ residents face increased energy bills due to Murphy's plan, prompting lawmakers to call for hearings.

There have been demands for hearings to hold the state utility commission, the governor, and proponents of green energy responsible after home energy bills in New Jersey increased significantly, leaving many residents with costs that have doubled or more.

On Wednesday, State Sen. Mike Testa, R-Salem, agreed with those criticisms and stated that a significant amount of responsibility lies with Democrat Gov. Phil Murphy's "Energy Master Plan," which was introduced in 2020.

"New Jersey is already one of the most expensive states in the US, and now energy bills are being doubled, which is unacceptable, even considering the hot July weather," Testa stated.

According to one constituent, they raised their thermostat by four degrees during the summer in an attempt to save money, but the cost still increased "significantly."

A Parsippany resident questioned a $782 monthly bill in a local social media group comprised of homeowners in suburban Morris County, as reported by the Morristown Daily Record.

The Murphy Energy Master Plan, also known as the energy disaster plan, appears to be driving the BPU and the Murphy administration towards a shared goal of pursuing green energy.

He referred to it as the "energy disaster plan" and added that BPU officials wore windmill pins at public events during New Jersey's controversy over offshore turbines.

BPU acknowledged receiving correspondence from New Jerseyans and provided several potential reasons for the rate hikes.

The board announced that generation costs and usage have increased, and customers should contact their utility or the board immediately if they discover an "anomaly and cannot determine an explanation." Additionally, a one-time $175 bill credit program is available, as stated by a board spokesperson.

Planet Chronicle Digital received data from PJM, an energy transmission company that serves the Mid-Atlantic region, regarding the issue at hand.

The proliferation of high-demand data centers and the rapid retirement of thermal generators due to government and private sector policies as well as economics are likely to increase electricity demand in the region, according to PJM research.

This week, Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., wrote a letter to the BPU expressing his frustration, citing "thousands" of constituents who have discovered unbearable bill increases.

He demanded a public hearing in South Jersey by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) to allow residents to express their concerns directly to the Board. Additionally, he requested that the board investigate whether there is a correlation between the rate hikes and the offshore wind turbine operations in his Cape May district.

New Jersey officials must take the situation seriously, as Van Drew dismissed claims that the "unseasonably warm summer" was the only variable.

To ensure that the needs and concerns of South Jersey residents are being effectively addressed, transparency and accountability are necessary from the NJBPU, as stated.

Despite Murphy's full support and taxpayer funding, Ørsted withdrew its windmill plans for the Jersey Shore, indicating that they were unable to make it work.

The governor previously praised the Energy Master Plan's goal of 100% clean energy by 2050 in the Garden State, but Murphy's office did not respond to a request for comment.

He stated that the Energy Master Plan comprehensively addresses New Jersey's energy system, including electricity generation, transportation, and buildings, as well as their associated greenhouse gas emissions and related air pollutants.

The Murphy administration announced a "Residential Energy Assistance Payment (REAP) Initiative" on Tuesday, which will provide financial relief to thousands of households in the amount of $175, as previously stated by BPU.

Since day one, our top priority has been to make our state more affordable for New Jersey families, as stated by Murphy.

Speaker Coughlin, D-Perth Amboy, stated that it is "excellent to see this resource being added to the expanding array of support accessible to residents in need of additional assistance in our state."

In Central Jersey, the average increase in price-per-kilowatt hour was 8.6%, according to Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz, R-Summit.

When demand increases and supply decreases, prices rise, as stated by her to Planet Chronicle Digital.

"I believe Americans are innovative, but the government's mandating of deadlines and shutting down of natural gas production can hinder innovation."

Munoz, a member of the Budget Committee, stated that there are likely Democrats who agree that the rate hikes are problematic: "It's a bit of a ludicrous notion for them to believe, like, do they not care that their constituents are the ones bearing these enormous increases in cost?"

Nick Scutari, D-Clark, was contacted by Planet Chronicle Digital for his perspective.

Despite opinions on EVs, Munoz stated that there won't be the necessary infrastructure to meet the goal of 60% electric vehicle sales in New Jersey by 2035.

Testa expressed relief that crackdowns on green energy initiatives hadn't reached the same level as those in other states, such as the shuttering of the Indian Point nuke plant in New York in 2020.

In Lower Alloways Creek Township, a nuclear plant similar to the one he is proud of remains operational, and he is pleased to have it, its jobs, and its generation capacity in his district.

Testa stated that the state's energy portfolio consists of 50% natural gas, 40% nuclear, and 10% other, which contradicts Murphy's opposition to increasing natural gas production.

Some energy experts worry about nuclear power crises, like the 1979 Three Mile Island meltdown in Pennsylvania, but Testa believes technology has advanced and small modular nuclear reactors, similar to those on submarines, could safely and inexpensively generate clean energy inland.

He assured us that those do not harm whales.