Governor Sherrill signing Executive Order No. 12 on Feb. 11, 2026 | Photo via Governor’s Office
TRENTON, N.J. — Governor Mikie Sherrill today signed a sweeping package of energy‑reform bills that her administration says will save New Jersey ratepayers more than $1 billion annually, marking one of the most aggressive affordability initiatives in the state’s recent history. The announcement included immediate bill credits for millions of households and new oversight measures aimed at curbing wasteful utility spending — a development welcomed by Filipino American families across the state who have long faced rising energy costs.
The Governor signed three major bills targeting outdated incentives, unchecked utility spending, and cost‑shifting by large data centers. According to Synapse Energy Economics, the combined impact of these reforms — along with actions taken over the past six months — will generate more than $1 billion in yearly savings for New Jerseyans.
“These actions will save New Jerseyans more than $1 billion every year,” Sherrill said. “We’re putting money back into people’s pockets while holding utility companies and large data centers accountable through stronger oversight and smarter incentives that will drive down costs and strengthen our grid.”
Immediate Relief for Households, Including Fil‑Am Communities
Sherrill announced a $25 credit for all 3.6 million ratepayers through the Residential Universal Bill Credit (RUBC) program, along with an additional $150 credit for lower‑ and moderate‑income families through the Residential Energy Assistance Payment (REAP) program.
For New Jersey’s Fil‑Am community — one of the fastest‑growing Asian American groups in the state — these credits offer timely relief. Many Fil‑Am households live in multigenerational settings with higher energy usage, while Fil‑Am‑owned small businesses such as restaurants, home‑care agencies, and retail shops have struggled with rising utility costs.
“Fil‑Am families work hard, often supporting relatives here and back home,” said a New Jersey resident who runs a Filipino café. “Any relief helps. Energy bills have been brutal.”
What the New Laws Do
The three bills signed by Sherrill include:
Repeal ROE Adder (S1673 / A2757) — Sponsored by Sen. Andrew Zwicker and Assemblymembers Katz, Calabrese, and Park, this measure eliminates an unnecessary incentive that allowed utilities to add 50 basis points to their return on equity simply for participating in PJM, raising wholesale transmission rates for consumers.
Advanced Grid Technologies Act (S4411 / A5188) — Sponsored by Sen. Zwicker and Assemblymembers Miller, Schnall, and Onyema, this bill closes a regulatory loophole that allowed utilities to advance supplemental transmission projects without oversight. These projects accounted for 79% of New Jersey’s transmission expenses from 2008–2025, costing ratepayers $14.7 billion.
Data Center Fair Share (S731 / A796) — Sponsored by Sen. Burzichelli and Assemblymembers McKeon, Bailey, Danielsen, Calabrese, and Pintor Marin, this bill ensures large data centers pay their fair share for energy use instead of shifting costs onto families and small businesses. “We want to make sure data centers pay for the energy they use and the infrastructure they need, not our constituents,” said Assemblyman Bailey.
Legislative Leaders Praise the Reforms
Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin said the bills reflect a long‑term commitment to affordability: “Governor Sherrill shares our commitment on energy affordability, and I’m thrilled she’s signed these bills into law.”
Assemblyman Avi Schnall emphasized that modernizing infrastructure can reduce costs: “By updating existing infrastructure, we increase reliability. But when we strategically deploy advanced technologies, we can reduce costs for ratepayers at the same time.”
Senator Zwicker highlighted the urgency of grid modernization: “Addressing the rising cost of electricity requires us to modernize our electric grid and better oversee utility providers to deliver power more efficiently and affordably.”
Broader Energy Strategy
The announcement builds on Sherrill’s six‑month affordability agenda, including freezing electric rate hikes, expanding community solar, approving new clean‑energy projects, launching a Nuclear Task Force, and establishing guardrails for data centers amid rapid AI‑driven growth.
For Fil‑Am families, advocates say these reforms represent a meaningful step toward stability. “Energy affordability is a kitchen‑table issue for our community,” said Paul Versoza, a Fil‑Am civic leader in Union County. “These reforms show that government can act decisively to protect working families.”