Jack Ciattarelli and Mikie Sherrill laid out their plans for New Jersey's manufacturing industry at a forum at iPlay America in Freehold Township.
* Skyrocketing electric bills have become a central issue in the New Jersey governor's race.
* Democratic candidate Mikie Sherrill plans to declare a state of emergency to freeze utility rates and speed up new energy projects.
* Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli proposes pulling out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and increasing natural gas and nuclear power.
It's pretty clear. Something has to be done about skyrocketing electric bills.
The problem has electrified the governor's race between the Democrat, U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, and the Republican, Somerset County businessman Jack Ciattarelli, who have made their promises to rein back electricity prices key parts of their campaigns.
This past summer, electric bills for every residential customer in New Jersey shot up by as much as 20%, a result of higher wholesale electricity prices. Those costs are passed through by utilities, who do not make a profit on that portion of your bill.
The state issued $100 in bill credits and deferred $30 from July and August bills to be paid over the course of the following six months, from September 2025 to February 2026. Still, it stings. Bills are expected to rise next summer when wholesale prices go up again, albeit by a smaller amount.
State regulators point to PJM Interconnection, which is the regional grid operator for New Jersey and 12 other states, and a backlog of new generation projects awaiting connection, along with increased electricity demand. Each year, PJM holds an auction that sets the wholesale price the following year.
Both gubernatorial candidates have different solutions on how to bring down those electricity rates.
Sherill said she'll implement a rate freeze on "day one" and increase electric generation to lower costs. Cittarelli said he'll get rid of mandates on such things as electric vehicles and home appliances which juice demand and increase costs.
Here's what they have to say.
Sherill's plan
Sherill said she'll use the power of New Jersey's strong governorship to freeze utility rates.
"On day one as governor, I will declare a state of emergency on utility costs and end the rate hikes so families will not see bill increases while we expand cheaper energy generation to bring costs down," Sherrill said in a statement.
"New Jersey has one of the most powerful governors in the nation and I will use every ounce of that power to lower costs for New Jersey consumers."
How would she do it?
Stefanie Brand, a Sherill supporter and former director of the New Jersey Division of Rate Counsel, said the state Board of Public Utilities could deny rate hikes proposed by utilities.
Those rate proposals support utilities' operating expenses, recoup costs for certain improvement projects and fuel their profits. "Contrary to popular belief, the board doesn't have to grant a rate increase," Brand said.
Regulators also could block other utility charges that end up on customers' bills, she said.
"We were screaming for years about affordability and the need to make that as important a prong as things like reliability and combating climate change and all of those other things," Brand said.
Meanwhile, Sherill said she would eliminate red tape and permitting delays for new cheaper and cleaner energy projects that increase the state's power supply, lower costs and reduce emissions.
She would take PJM to court to accelerate the development of cheaper and cleaner energy sources and connect new generation to the grid.
Cittarelli's plan
Cittarelli has scoffed at Sherill's plan.
"Rep. Sherrill's plan to freeze massive rate hikes in place means higher costs for ratepayers during the "freeze" and then even higher costs when utilities file for rate hikes afterward," his campaign said in a statement.
Cittarelli has said he would pull the state out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
Ten states, from Maine to Maryland, are part of the initiative, which caps the amount of carbon dioxide power plants may release and requires those plants to purchase credits allowing them to emit specified amounts of the gas.
A decision to leave the initiative, known as RGGI, will save ratepayers $300 million to $500 million a year, the campaign said.
"That's a savings for homeowners, tenants and business owners all across the state," the campaign said. "Jack will also clean house at the BPU and put in commissioners who put ratepayers first, not foreign wind companies."
Murphy has mandated more electricity use while not replacing electric generation, reducing the supply of power, the spokesman said.
Cittarelli's plan would increase electricity production by building and repurposing power generators that were closed under the Murphy administration.
"It means using proven energy sources such as natural gas, nuclear and solar, accelerating small modular reactors to get more power online, and promoting battery storage so that solar and other sources can be deployed to the grid as needed," the spokesman said. "It also means preparing for future sources such as hydrogen.
"It does not include offshore wind because of its huge costs, recent failures and value of our Jersey Shore."