As utility providers prepare rate hikes that would raise bills by up to 20%, a state senator from New Jersey has submitted a number of proposals to address the high cost of electricity.
At a news conference on Friday, Senator Britnee Timberlake stated that her people have told her that they are being evicted from their houses due to excessive power bills.
“You have to account for the cost to heat and cool the home … and these utility companies need to be stopped,” she stated.
According to Timberlake, the Board of Public Utilities authorized a 17–20% increase in electricity costs beginning in June.
The Democrat is proposing a number of laws, some of which include a 2% cap on rate increases every five years, a return to 2020 energy levels, and an investigation into what she describes as private firms that are monopolies.
“It needs to be fast-tracked because people need the relief now,” Timberlake stated.
According to a statement from PSE&G, the firm “works hard to keep customer bills as low as possible while providing safe and reliable energy.” They also noted that energy costs and demand are rising, and utility companies like PSE&G are not making money off of the 17% increase.
Legislation introduced by Timberlake has passed. It’s unclear if they would be signed by Governor Phil Murphy or another governor in the future.
Residents of New Jersey explain the challenging expenses
According to Tabetha Bassit of Echoes Inc., lighting up her counseling facility and the nearby funeral parlor costs $2,000 each month.
“The more we absorb these costs, it creates a difficulty for us to offer free counseling,” she stated.
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Rev. Ella Johnson, a resident of East Orange, claimed that her energy bill—which includes both gas and electricity—is unmanageable.
“I have been a widow for 11 years, and it’s not easy trying to maintain a home,” East Orange resident Rev. Ella Johnson stated. “The bills are not easy to pay because they can run anywhere from close to $600 in the month of January, and it gradually comes down.”
Although she claims it’s becoming harder, the 85-year-old wants to remain in the house she’s lived in for 56 years.
“It is terrifying … because not only do I have this to take care of, but I have other things to take care of as well,” she stated.
