Most politicians rarely discuss electricity costs. But in New Jersey, they have been featured prominently in campaign ads and stump speeches in the run-up to November’s election for governor.
This generally obscure topic has become critical in New Jersey because electricity rates this summer climbed 22 percent from a year earlier — faster than all but one state: Maine.
As the governor’s race has tightened and affordability has become a key issue, power costs have become a predominant theme in ads paid for in part by groups associated with both national parties.
What happens in New Jersey is likely to be an early read of the national political mood in 2026, when a majority of governors’ mansions will be up for grabs as well as congressional and state legislative seats. That’s because electricity rates are rising sharply in many states — the national average residential rate was up 5 percent in July from the same month last year, and energy experts say rates are likely to keep climbing quickly for the foreseeable future.
The rising cost of living has been a pressing concern for many Americans over the past couple of years, remaining so this year in large part because of President Trump’s decision to sharply raise tariffs on imported goods.
“Electricity is the new eggs,” said David Springe, executive director of the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates, referring to the anger over inflation that helped Mr. Trump win last year’s election.
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