Atlantic County Times

Congressman Jeff Van Drew will host a field hearing in South Jersey on October 8, 2024, at 3:30 PM ET. The event, titled "An Examination into Surging Power Bills in South Jersey," aims to address the reported increases of up to 400% in electricity bills faced by some residents. The hearing will bring together community leaders and energy policy experts to explore the causes behind these rising costs.

The hearing will include Members of Congress from across the country, including Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11), Congressman Mark Alford (MO-4), and Congressman Ben Cline (VA-6). The focus will be on understanding local, state, and national energy policies contributing to the issue.

Key witnesses scheduled to present include Meteorologist Nick "Nor'easter" Pittman, Blaise Scibetta, Mayor of Little Egg Harbor Township and business owner; Allen Carter, President of the New Jersey Farm Bureau; and Audrey Lane, President of the Garden State Initiative. Additional witnesses are expected to be added.

Invitations have been extended to Atlantic City Electric, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, and the New Jersey Ratepayer Advocate.

The hearing will take place at The Atlantic County Institute of Technology Performing Arts Center located at 5080 Atlantic Avenue, Mays Landing, New Jersey 08330. The event will also be livestreamed with a link to be released soon.

Attendees are requested to RSVP for the event. Those willing to provide copies of their electric bills from the last two years can fax them in a single document to (202)-225-3318 or email them to info.vandrew@mail.house.gov. These documents will become part of the permanent congressional record.