Mikie Sherrill’s Promise to Freeze Energy Rates Falls Short as JCP&L Announces Nearly 2% Hike in 2026

Small summer increases highlight gap between Sherrill’s promises and how utility pricing actually works.

Newark, NJ – New Jersey electric bills are set to tick up slightly this summer for some customers despite Governor Mikie Sherrill’s pledge to freeze rate hikes, revealing the limits of state intervention in a complex, multi-layered energy market. New rate adjustments taking effect June 1 show modest increases for certain utilities even as others decline, following a sharp spike in 2025.

The changes are relatively small—about 1.6 percent for JCP&...