Sauickie: Democrats Shocked You With $500+ Electric Bills — Then Tried to Buy You Off With $30

How can anyone afford more of this?

If you just opened your July electric bill and noticed a $30 “credit,” don’t be fooled — it’s not relief. It’s a failed rebate scheme from Governor Phil Murphy and the Democrat-controlled Legislature. It was designed to distract you.

But I’m sure you noticed your electric bills increased by $300 to $1,000! I had one constituent report that his latest electric bill was over $1300! What’s a $30 credit going to do?

That’s not help. That’s an insult.

The reality is simple: this crisis was created in Trenton. And it was Governor Murphy and his allies in the Democrat Legislature, who’ve held total control of New Jersey government for nearly a decade — who imposed the radical energy policies now gutting your wallet.

They shut down reliable energy sources like the Oyster Creek nuclear plant and five major coal and natural gas facilities, eliminating over 20% of New Jersey’s dependable power supply. At the same time, they forced an ideological mandate to “electrify everything” — homes, trucks, stoves, warehouses — without securing a backup plan. Supply was slashed. Demand exploded - and working families are paying the price.

All of this was done with full support from the Democrat majorities in both the Senate and General Assembly. They rubber-stamped Murphy’s agenda every step of the way.

And now, after eight years of empty promises that wind and solar would “cut costs,” we’re left with skyrocketing bills, stalled solar fields, and a headline-making disaster: Ørsted — the world’s largest offshore wind developer, walked away from its New Jersey projects in 2023. The Murphy administration’s response? Blame President Trump. Whether you like President Trump or not, just a reminder, he didn’t take office until 2025.

Credit: EcoFlow Blog

So how much wind supply replaced the reliable nuclear and natural gas? Zero.

Rather than take responsibility, they’re trying to gaslight you — suggesting the problem is your thermostat, your window blinds, or your “high usage.” Their only solution? A $430 million “rebate” gimmick, repackaging your own money siphoned for years through surcharges like the Societal Benefits Charge and Clean Energy Fund. Didn’t know about those? That’s right, you’ve already paid for it, and now they are handing a tiny piece back just months before an election.

Let’s be clear: this isn’t a refund. It’s a bribe. A desperate attempt to buy your silence before November. Timing is everything right?

While Governor Murphy’s appointed Board of Public Utilities (BPU) lectures you to “run your A/C less,” families across New Jersey are seeing electric bills the equivalent of car payments, some so high they equate to luxury car payments — even after the so-called rebate. Meanwhile, the Legislature remains silent. Not a single Democrat has stepped up to reverse the shutdowns, demand accountability, or most importantly admit this experiment has failed.

The truth is, New Jersey didn’t arrive here by accident. The Democrats had full control of the Governor’s office, the Senate, and the Assembly. For four years they even had the support of the Biden administration in their mis-guided ideological energy quest. They chose this course. They ignored warnings. They dismissed opposition. They gambled with your energy future. And now they want you to pretend it didn’t happen or at least they want you to believe it was caused by someone else.

PJM and regional grid dynamics may influence prices, but let’s not lose focus: New Jersey deliberately destroyed its own energy backbone. That’s a choice Governor Murphy made, with the full support of Trenton Democrats. And now they want to blame everyone but themselves.

Enough is enough.

New Jersey deserves a real energy plan. A plan that is transparent, responsible, and rooted in economic reality, not ideological fantasy. We can embrace cleaner energy, but we must do so with practicality and preparedness, not political posturing.

The next time you open your bill and see a $30 credit, remember what it really is: a Band-Aid over a bullet hole — and a warning sign that the people in charge don’t take your family’s struggles seriously.

So you don’t think I’m all complaints and no action, I’ve tried to save you money on your utility bills, and there are real opportunities to do it sooner than later. I attempted to remove the $180 a year fee utilities charge if you opt-out of a smart meter. I also tried to save you from paying sales tax on electricity and gas which would have immediately saved you almost 7% on your monthly bills. Yes, you pay sales tax on electricity and gas. What did the Democrats do? Voted No on both.

They didn’t just turn off your power. They turned off accountability. We vote for a new governor and all members of the General Assembly this November. You want to lower your energy bills? Make your vote count!

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Assemblyman Alex Sauickie represents thirteen municipalities across Monmouth, Middlesex, Ocean, and Burlington counties in the New Jersey General Assembly. Follow him on Facebook (@AssemblymanAlex), Instagram (@AssemblymanAlex), X (@AlexSauickie) or visit AssemblymanAlex.com.