Sherrill vs. Ciattarelli on Utility Costs and Energy Policy

With utility bills soaring and families struggling to make ends meet, the cost of energy has quickly become one of the central issues in the 2025 New Jersey governor’s race. Both Democratic nominee Mikie Sherrill and Republican nominee Jack Ciattarelli are offering voters very different visions for how to tackle the problem.

Explore New Jersey breaks down where each candidate stands so you can make an informed decision at the ballot box.

Mikie Sherrill: Declaring a State of Emergency on Utility Costs

The former Navy helicopter pilot and current Democratic nominee is framing utility costs as an economic crisis demanding immediate action.

Key Elements of Sherrill’s Plan:

Day One State of Emergency: Freeze utility rates to stop further increases.
Energy Expansion: Build out solar, battery storage, and new nuclear power in Salem County.
Transparency & Oversight: Require utility companies like PSE&G, JCP&L, Atlantic City Electric, and Rockland Electric to open their books.
Accountability: Replace BPU commissioners if they fail to control rates.
Regional Coordination: Work with neighboring states to build large-scale reactors and pursue legal action against PJM, the grid operator, for delays.

Sherrill’s Pitch:
“New Jersey families are being crushed by their utility bills and we’ve reached a crisis point. On Day One, I’m going to declare a State of Emergency on Utility Costs… and I’m not afraid to take on anyone—utilities, the BPU, or even my own party—to get it done.”

Sherrill has positioned herself as the candidate of aggressive intervention, promising to use the full power of the governor’s office to force change quickly.

Jack Ciattarelli: Market Solutions and Energy Choice

Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli is taking a different approach. While he agrees that New Jersey’s energy system is failing families, Ciattarelli argues that overregulation, mismanagement, and excessive state mandates are the real culprits.

Key Elements of Ciattarelli’s Plan:

End “Trenton’s Overreach”: Scale back what he calls costly mandates on utilities and businesses.
Support Traditional Energy: Keep natural gas as part of New Jersey’s energy mix for affordability and reliability.
Slow Down Mandates: Push back against what he sees as an unrealistic timeline for 100% clean energy.
Cut Costs by Cutting Taxes: Reduce fees and state-imposed costs that are baked into utility bills.
Energy Independence: Increase in-state generation while lowering reliance on imported electricity.

Ciattarelli’s Pitch:
“Governor Murphy’s and the Democrats’ mandates have driven up utility costs for every New Jerseyan. We need an energy policy rooted in reality, affordability, and choice—not political grandstanding.”

Ciattarelli emphasizes market-driven solutions and argues that slowing down the push for clean energy will protect ratepayers from even higher bills.

Head-to-Head Comparison

Issue	Mikie Sherrill	Jack Ciattarelli
Immediate Action on Rates	Day One freeze on utility rate hikes	Opposes freeze, favors deregulation to reduce costs
Clean Energy	Rapid expansion of solar, nuclear, and battery storage	Slower transition, emphasizes affordability first
BPU Oversight	Will replace commissioners if necessary	Reduce BPU’s regulatory authority
Grid Operator (PJM)	Will sue PJM to force faster connections	Criticizes federal overreach but stops short of legal action
Long-Term Strategy	Build a “New Jersey energy arsenal” with clean, reliable power	Keep natural gas central, expand in-state production
Political Framing	Running as a crisis manager ready to fight utilities and Trump	Running as a fiscal realist protecting families from costly mandates

Why This Matters for Voters

For New Jersey families, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Utility bills are not just another line item—they’re a major part of household budgets. With costs already up by nearly 20% in some communities, voters will have to decide which candidate’s vision they trust more:

Sherrill’s assertive government intervention and clean energy buildout, or
Ciattarelli’s market-oriented approach emphasizing affordability and energy choice.

The 2025 election is shaping up to be a referendum not only on New Jersey’s energy future, but also on how quickly and aggressively the state should act to bring down costs.

For more updates on the 2025 New Jersey election, candidate platforms, and statewide policy debates, visit our Politics section.

Sherrill Puts the BPU on Notice, Vows Day One State of Emergency on Utility Costs

The cost of living in New Jersey has always been high, but in 2025, one issue has hit families especially hard: skyrocketing utility bills. With electricity and energy costs rising as much as 20% in a single year, residents across the state are demanding answers—and solutions.

Democratic gubernatorial nominee Mikie Sherrill is putting this issue at the center of her campaign. Standing before voters in Kenilworth, Sherrill promised bold, immediate action if she becomes governor, including a Day One State of Emergency on Utility Costs. Her message was clear: she’s ready to take on the Board of Public Utilities (BPU), major energy providers, and even her own party to deliver relief to struggling New Jersey families.

Declaring a Utility State of Emergency

Sherrill’s plan begins with an executive order that would immediately freeze rate hikes while the state fast-tracks new energy projects. She argues that years of neglect, grid mismanagement, and bureaucratic delays have left New Jersey too dependent on expensive and outdated energy sources.

Her energy blueprint includes:

Expanding solar and battery storage projects to deliver cheaper power more quickly.
Supporting new nuclear capacity in Salem County to secure long-term energy independence.
Modernizing existing natural gas facilities to improve efficiency while reducing emissions.
Breaking down red tape so clean energy projects aren’t delayed for years.

Sherrill also called for unprecedented transparency from New Jersey’s major utility companies—PSE&G, JCP&L, Atlantic City Electric, and Rockland Electric—saying she would open the books to track exactly where customer payments are going and whether utilities are acting in the public’s best interest.

The BPU Under Pressure

The Board of Public Utilities has long been a lightning rod for criticism, and Sherrill has made it clear that her administration will hold commissioners accountable.

“If the current BPU commissioners are not going to address this, yes, they will be replaced,” she said, signaling that leadership changes at the BPU would be on the table if action isn’t swift and effective.

Her remarks reflect growing frustration among residents who feel they’ve been left paying the price for gridlock, poor oversight, and what she describes as years of mismanagement by PJM, the regional grid operator.

A Human Cost: Families Struggling to Pay the Bills

For many New Jerseyans, this isn’t just a policy debate—it’s a matter of daily survival. Seniors, working families, and small businesses are reporting utility bills climbing from under $100 a month to nearly $400.

Kenilworth resident Herb Michitsch put it bluntly: “Utilities are really putting a dent in our budget. When we first moved in, our bill was under $100 a month. Now it’s creeping up close to $400. When Mikie is governor, I’m sure on day one, she will stop the increase in utilities.”

Union voices echoed that urgency. Keith Misciagna of IBEW Local 164 praised Sherrill’s plan, saying that declaring a state of emergency would not only cut costs for families but also create new good-paying union jobs as the state expands its power generation capacity.

Taking On Trump, Utilities, and Grid Operators

Sherrill’s plan doesn’t stop at state agencies. She has also pledged to fight back against federal policies she argues are driving costs higher. In particular, she criticizes former President Trump’s rollback of clean energy incentives, which she says amounts to a “price hike bill” costing New Jersey families an extra $220 per year.

She also singled out PJM, the regional grid operator, accusing it of dragging its feet on connecting new, cheaper, and cleaner energy projects. Sherrill said her administration would work with neighboring states—and even pursue legal action if necessary—to force PJM to accelerate development.

A Defining Issue in New Jersey Politics

The battle over utility costs is becoming one of the defining debates of the 2025 election. As Sherrill frames it, the stakes are about more than monthly bills—they’re about whether New Jersey can remain affordable for middle-class families while still meeting its clean energy and climate goals.

By promising to take on utilities, regulators, and Washington politicians alike, Sherrill is betting that voters are ready for aggressive leadership on one of the most pressing economic challenges of the moment.

For more on how this issue is shaping the race for governor and other state-level debates, visit our Politics section.

Why It Matters for New Jersey Families

Utility bills are not optional—they’re an unavoidable part of daily life. Whether it’s powering homes through hot summers, heating them during cold winters, or keeping small businesses running, energy costs ripple through every corner of the state’s economy.

With residents already stretched thin by rising property taxes, housing costs, and inflation, Sherrill’s vow to declare a State of Emergency on Utility Costs sets the stage for one of the most important policy fights New Jersey has seen in years.

New Jersey’s 10th Legislative District (LD10)

As New Jersey heads into the 2025 election season, all eyes are turning toward the 10th Legislative District (LD10), one of the most competitive and closely watched areas on the Jersey Shore. Stretching across a sliver of Monmouth County and a wide swath of Ocean County, LD10 is home to beach towns, family neighborhoods, and a vibrant mix of voters whose concerns will play a major role in shaping statewide politics this November.

Where LD10 Is Located

The 10th Legislative District covers communities along the coast and inland, including:

Monmouth County towns: Brielle, Manasquan, Sea Girt, Spring Lake, and Spring Lake Heights
Ocean County towns: Bay Head, Brick, Island Heights, Lavallette, Mantoloking, Point Pleasant, Point Pleasant Beach, Seaside Heights, Seaside Park, South Toms River, and Toms River

This combination of seaside resorts, suburban neighborhoods, and bustling shore towns makes LD10 a dynamic district where local issues like property taxes, beach replenishment, tourism, and infrastructure collide with larger statewide concerns such as energy costs, education, and public safety.

Utility Costs Take Center Stage in the 2025 Election

One of the biggest issues defining this election cycle is the rising cost of utilities. Families across LD10 and the rest of the Garden State are feeling the impact of rate hikes, with some households seeing their monthly bills double in just a few years.

Gubernatorial candidate Mikie Sherrill, the Democratic nominee, has made utility costs a cornerstone of her campaign, vowing to declare a Day One State of Emergency on Utility Costs if elected governor. Her plan includes freezing rate hikes, accelerating new clean-energy projects, and holding utility companies such as PSE&G, JCP&L, Atlantic City Electric, and Rockland Electric accountable for transparency.

“New Jersey families are being crushed by their utility bills and we’ve reached a crisis point,” Sherrill has said, promising to push through bold reforms while calling out years of mismanagement by utilities, regulators, and grid operator PJM.

Her proposals also include breaking ground on solar and battery storage projects, supporting upgrades at existing nuclear facilities, and even fast-tracking the development of a new nuclear plant in Salem County to bolster in-state power generation.

The Political Landscape in LD10

LD10 has long been considered a Republican-leaning district, but in 2025, the combination of rising living costs, energy debates, and statewide gubernatorial politics has made it a district to watch closely.

Republican candidates are expected to campaign on affordability, cutting taxes, and defending local interests along the Jersey Shore.
Democratic candidates are focusing on utility costs, energy independence, and creating pathways to more affordable living for families struggling to keep up with rising expenses.

With turnout expected to be high in shore communities like Point Pleasant, Toms River, and Brick, LD10 could serve as a bellwether for how suburban and coastal voters are feeling about New Jersey’s direction.

What’s at Stake for Residents

For voters in the 10th Legislative District, the 2025 election is about more than politics—it’s about kitchen-table issues. Among the top concerns on the ballot this year:

Energy and Utility Costs – Will reforms come fast enough to bring down monthly bills?
Affordability – Can New Jersey families continue to live and thrive in one of the most expensive states in the country?
Infrastructure and the Shore Economy – With tourism and seasonal residents playing such a major role in the district, investment in roads, utilities, and coastal protection will remain critical.
Transparency and Accountability – Voters are demanding more openness from utility companies, state regulators, and political leaders alike.

Why LD10 Matters in 2025

New Jersey’s 10th Legislative District represents the challenges many Garden State residents are facing: high costs of living, an energy grid under stress, and communities that want both growth and preservation of their coastal identity.

The outcome here will not only determine local representation but could also send a strong message about statewide priorities as New Jersey moves deeper into debates on affordability, infrastructure, and clean energy.

For the latest election updates, candidate profiles, and in-depth coverage of political issues across the Garden State, visit our Politics section