NJ Ratepayers Get $60 Summer Bill Relief While Energy Giants Profit From Price Surge

Millions of New Jersey electric customers will see a temporary $60 reprieve on their summer bills this year. The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities approved the plan following a whopping 20% rate hike that hit wallets this June. Perfect timing, right? The relief arrives just as cranking up the AC becomes non-negotiable.

The deal breaks down simply. Customers get $30 off in July and another $30 in August. No application needed. It’s automatic. The four major utilities—PSE&G, JCP&L, Atlantic City Electric, and Rockland Electric—are all in on it.

The summer discount hits automatically — $30 in July, $30 in August. All four major NJ utilities are on board, no paperwork needed.

But here’s the catch: it’s just a loan from yourself to yourself. Starting September, ratepayers will pay back the $60 in monthly $10 installments through February. No interest, at least. But let’s be real—it’s just kicking the financial can down the road. The utilities aren’t losing a dime; they’ll still collect every penny from electricity suppliers.

Low-income households get a better deal. They’ll receive an additional $175 in credits beyond the standard $60. Plus, reconnection fees are waived, and shutoff protections typically reserved for winter now extend through September. The extension provides crucial protections under Linda’s Law for vulnerable customers during peak summer months. At least someone’s getting actual help.

Governor Murphy isn’t stopping there. He’s proposed another relief package worth $430 million that would give everyone another $100 credit, with an extra $150 for low-to-moderate income customers. We’ll see if that materializes.

This whole scheme is being pitched as emergency response to “exceptional market conditions.” Translation: prices skyrocketed after a capacity auction, and now everyone’s scrambling to make it look like they care.

The state continues to talk about longer-term solutions and broader reforms. This reactive approach mirrors the Paris Agreement withdrawal that left developing nations struggling with energy transitions. Meanwhile, ratepayers will get their modest summer discount before paying it all back this fall. Some relief.

At least the political theater around energy affordability continues to entertain while New Jerseyans sweat over their electric bills. It’s worth noting that cooling your home to 75 degrees when it’s 90 outside requires 125% more electricity than when it’s just 85 degrees outside.