Governor Phil Murphy recently announced new measures to help New Jersey residents manage significant utility rate increases scheduled to take effect June 1, 2025. The rate hikes, ranging from 17.2% to 20.2% depending on location, are expected to hit hardest during high-usage summer months.
“New Jersey ratepayers are preparing for an unprecedented increase in utility costs,” said Governor Murphy. “While the utilities are not responsible for the rate increases, they have a responsibility to protect ratepayers.”
The Governor’s plan focuses on both immediate relief and long-term solutions. Key components include:
Immediate Relief Measures:
- Urging utilities to extend the Winter Termination Program (which prevents service disconnections) to summer months
- Suspending reconnection fees during peak summer usage
- Distributing a second Residential Energy Assistance Payment, following last year’s successful program that provided $48.7 million via one-time $175 bill credits to over 278,000 qualifying households
Expanded Assistance Programs:
- Enhancing the Universal Service Fund program, which offers bill credits to households earning up to 60% of state median income (about $92,000 annually for a family of four)
- Maintaining several existing assistance programs including the Fresh Start Program, Payment Assistance for Gas and Electric, Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, Lifeline, NJ Shares, and NJ Comfort Partners
Long-Term Solutions:
- Expediting additional solar energy projects through the Community Solar Energy Program, which already serves 28,000 subscribers with guaranteed savings of 15% or more
- Opening a new proceeding on resource adequacy to bring more power generation online while keeping costs low
- Investigating nuclear generation opportunities
The state encourages residents to contact the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) at (800) 624-0241 for assistance before facing service disruption. Detailed information about available programs can be found on the NJBPU’s website under “BPU Assistance Programs.”