NEW JERSEY ELECTRICITY RATES SET TO INCREASE AGAIN AFTER POWER AUCTION

Wednesday, July 23, 2025 at 4:03 PM

TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey residents may face higher electricity bills next year, as shown by the latest results from the PJM Interconnection power auction. The auction determines how much energy power plants are willing to provide and how much utilities will pay for that energy, which affects the cost of electricity across the region, including New Jersey and several nearby states. According to the results, most customers can expect their electricity bills to go up by between 1.5 and 5 percent in 2026. This comes after a 20 percent increase in costs approved earlier this year. The new rates have led to discussions among state lawmakers. Democratic and Republican leaders are pointing fingers at each other for the rising costs. Some Democrats are criticizing the regional grid operator for not bringing enough power sources online, while Republicans argue that state policies pushing for cleaner energy have caused a shortage of reliable power. PJM officials say rising demand and the slow development of new power infrastructure are leading to higher prices. The new rate changes will start in June 2026 for most customers and businesses. If you have questions about your electricity service or the changes coming in 2026, you can visit NewJersey.gov for more details.