RELEASE: Gottheimer Hosts “More Energy, Lower Utility Bills” Roundtable, Calls for “All-of-the-Above” Approach to Bring Down Skyrocketing Energy Costs

Above: Gottheimer hosts “More Energy, Lower Utility Bills” Roundtable.

PARAMUS, N.J. — Today, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) hosted a roundtable at Bergen County Community College with the NJ Energy Policy Coalition and New Jersey energy leaders to discuss an all-of-the-above approach to skyrocketing energy costs crushing Jersey families and small businesses. 

Electric bills in New Jersey have surged 45 percent in just the last two years — and they’re set to go even higher. This year alone, the average residential customer has seen their monthly electric bill increase between 17 and 20 percent. That comes on top of a 16 percent spike in gas heating rates last fall and more than a 34 percent surge in gas prices since the start of the conflict in Iran, driving up the cost of groceries and nearly everything else.

“Energy isn’t a luxury — it’s a necessity, and Jersey families shouldn’t be punished just for keeping the lights on,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “We need an all-of-the-above approach: nuclear, natural gas, and renewables. We need to cut the red tape, hold the system accountable, and make sure families aren’t getting squeezed every time they flip on a light switch.”

At the roundtable, Congressman Gottheimer discussed several areas of federal energy policy he is pursuing, including comprehensive permitting reform, interstate transmission construction, grid expansion and reliability, and actions to provide immediate relief for families.

“There’s a false choice out there — the idea that we have to sacrifice our climate goals to get enough energy. That’s just not true,” Gottheimer continued. “The U.S. is at its lowest carbon emissions in nearly 30 years, because we shifted from coal to natural gas and renewables. We can build more power and lower emissions at the same time.The question is what more we can do — and that’s exactly what this roundtable was about. I’m taking what we discussed today back to Washington, and I’m going to come back with real solutions.”

Congressman Gottheimer was joined by the NJ Energy Policy Coalition, PJM Interconnection, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG), New Jersey Energy Marketers Group, Riggs Distler, and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 94.

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