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Congressman Gottheimer Announces New Lower Utility Bills Plan to Fight Recent Price Hikes

PHOTO: U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer. PHOTO: U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer.

“We can’t raise utility bills by sixteen percent when folks are already struggling. All across our state, I have heard the concerns — from families and small businesses saying: ‘I can’t afford my utility bills, I can’t afford rent, I can’t afford my healthcare or childcare,’” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5).

FORT LEE, NJ. December 17, 2024 (Biz Republic) — U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) recently announced his “Lower Utility Prices Plan,” which includes new legislation and action to combat utility price hikes hitting hardworking Jersey families. Gottheimer’s announcement follows the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities approving a 16% increase in natural gas prices right before the holidays and as winter begins.

“The bottom line: We can’t raise utility bills by sixteen percent when folks are already struggling. All across our state, I have heard the concerns — from families and small businesses saying: ‘I can’t afford my utility bills, I can’t afford rent, I can’t afford my healthcare or childcare,’” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “To all our Jersey families who are struggling to pay their utility bills, our fight for affordability is just heating up.”

RISING UTILITY COSTS IN NJ

● Last month, the BPU approved new rate increases on heat usage by up to 16%.
● More than half a million Jersey families in Monmouth, Ocean, Morris, Middlesex, and Burlington counties who get their gas from New Jersey Natural Gas, will see their annual bill increase of more than $240 on average.
● More than 300,000 Elizabethtown Gas Company customers in Union, Middlesex, Sussex, Warren, Hunterdon, Morris, and Mercer counties were also hit with a 6.5% increase, meaning families could pay nearly $100 more annually.
● In 2022, BPU approved rate hikes that cost New Jersey residents hundreds of dollars more for natural gas — as much as $31 per month, in addition to 25% more for electricity.
● Electricity demand in the U.S. is on track to more than double between now and 2050.
● New Jersey’s household bills are 32% higher than the national average.

GOTTHEIMER’S NEW “LOWER UTILITY BILLS PLAN”

● First, Gottheimer is sending a letter to BPU and utility providers urging them to immediately reverse their decision to raise utility rates on families.
● Second, Gottheimer is introducing the Energy Costs Relief Act. This legislation provides a refundable tax credit of up to $350 to help offset rising energy costs.
● Third, Gottheimer is introducing the Know Your Rates Act in Washington, is similar to legislation from New Jersey’s State Legislature. This legislation requires utility companies to directly notify customers by phone, email, or text after ten days into their billing cycle if their energy usage rises above their monthly average. They’ll then receive another notification after 20 days. This will help families adjust their usage or prepare for higher bills before it’s too late.
● Fourth, Gottheimer is introducing the Home Energy Assistance Tax Credit (HEAT) Act. This legislation will double the maximum Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit allowed for energy efficiency upgrades, including residential heat pumps, to $4,000 per year. Currently, this federal tax credit is capped at $2,000 per year.

Gottheimer’s All-of-the-Above Energy Plan is committed to improving New Jersey and US energy independence to prevent price hikes from happening in the first place. Gottheimer helped negotiate, write, and pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, which so far has provided Jersey with nearly $130 million in investments for our electric grids to prevent outages, climate resiliency, and clean energy technology.

Gottheimer also worked to pass the Inflation Reduction Act, which directs nearly $400 billion in federal funding toward clean energy. Between now and 2030, this will bring an estimated $11.4 billion of investment in large-scale clean power generation and storage to New Jersey. This includes $30 billion in tax credits to accelerate U.S. manufacturing of solar panels, batteries, and wind turbines, and $10 billion in tax credits to build clean technology manufacturing facilities that make electric vehicles, wind turbines, and solar panels.

Gottheimer has also helped claw back $35 million in federal funding last year for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help low-income families afford their electricity bills. Gottheimer was joined by Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich, For Lee Councilwoman Ila Kasofsky, and Fort Lee Councilman Bryan Drumgoole.

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