Press Releases

Washington, DC - Today, Congressman Van Drew is calling for the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) board members to resign after their approval of yet another outrageous 17% electric rate increase.

"The NJBPU has failed the people of New Jersey," said Congressman Van Drew. "For years, they knew these rate hikes were coming, yet instead of working to protect consumers, they wasted time pushing their Green New Deal agenda. While the state's energy crisis worsened, they were more focused on advocating for wind turbines, even flaunting their political pro-wind pins on their suits during hearings when they should have been neutral and focused on creating an energy policy that actually helps New Jersey residents. Now here we are, left with billions of dollars thrown away into their costly, failed offshore wind projects along with sky-high utility bills, just as we and the New Jersey Ratepayer Advocate warned would happen.

"The NJBPU is blaming supply and demand, but this situation is the result of years of failed state and federal policy. New Jersey used to produce more energy than it needed but thanks to Governor Murphy's extreme green energy mandates, we are now in an energy deficit and forcing the ratepayers to cover the cost. They have ignored real solutions like nuclear, solar, and natural gas while shutting down projects that could have helped like the B.L. England Power Plant and the South Jersey natural gas pipeline. While I have worked with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to cap auction rates to fix this at the federal level, the state continues to undermine our efforts and make things worse. It is unsustainable and New Jersey families deserve better. The NJBPU has failed, and it is time for a change in leadership for the good of our residents."