Newly sworn on Tuesday, Mikie Sherrill dove into her responsibilities as governor, interrupting her inaugural address to sign two executive orders related to soaring utility costs in New Jersey.
“I am issuing an executive order giving the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities the authority to pause new utility requests for additional rate increases, and I will freeze rate hikes to finally provide families with real relief on their energy bills,” Sherrill said. “Second, I am issuing an executive order directing the Board of Public Utilities to open solicitations for new solar and storage power generation, to modernize gas and nuclear generation, so we can lower utility costs over the long term.”
Electricity rates on June 1 rose an average 20% as a result of an annual wholesale power auction, and another spike was expected this year. While a Day One utility bill freeze was a hallmark campaign theme, she also signed two more designed to increase government transparency and accountability.
One upholds the code of conduct for behavior within the governor’s office and another creates a chief operating officer. Sherrill also took action Tuesday to reduce permitting delays and costs and create an office within the Department of Health dedicated to protecting kids online.
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