New Jersey electric choice lets you switch suppliers to lower bills
New Jersey lets you choose your electricity supplier while your local utility handles delivery.
The short version
- Certified third-party suppliers offer fixed, variable, and renewable plans with zero service interruption.
- Check your electric bill to see if you can switch suppliers and lower your supply charges.
New Jersey residents can shop for alternative electricity suppliers while their local utility continues to manage delivery, poles, and wires. Under the state's deregulated market, your utility territory determines which third-party suppliers are available to your home or business. PSE&G, the state's largest utility serving over 2 million customers, operates alongside JCP&L, Atlantic City Electric, and Orange & Rockland.
Only the supply portion of your electricity bill changes when you switch to a certified third-party supplier. Delivery charges remain regulated by the NJ Board of Public Utilities and stay identical regardless of your supplier choice. Consumers can choose from fixed-rate plans, variable rates, renewable energy options, or short-term introductory contracts.
The switch takes between one and two billing cycles to complete with zero interruption to your power service. New Jersey households pay an average of $3,065 annually for energy, making it one of the most expensive states for electricity costs in the country.
Recent legislative proposals that could have re-regulated the market and ended retail choice failed when the previous legislative session concluded. Homeowners can review their current monthly statements and enter their ZIP codes to compare certified supply rates in their utility territory.
Photo: Smallbones, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
