TRENTON – Senator Linda Greenstein (D-Middlesex/Mercer) released the following statement in regard to the joint meeting of the Senate Select Committee and Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee to hear testimony on energy affordability in New Jersey:

“The dramatic rate increases expected to arrive in June are simply unacceptable for New Jersey’s residents,” said Senator Greenstein. “With a minimum 17 percent increase in monthly electric costs, the average household is expected to pay an additional $20 per month on top of what they already owe. We simply cannot allow that to happen.

“I applaud the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities for being a dedicated partner in the process of finding a long-term solution to lower electricity costs for our residents. We must continue to work with both public and private stakeholders to expand and better maintain our State’s renewable energy generation and storage capacities in order to lower both our carbon emissions and consumer electric rates in the future.”