My energy bill is insane! How recent price hikes, temperature spikes are hurting N.J. residents.

I expected my electric bill to be higher this July — but not five times higher.

Like residents across the Garden State, I was shocked to see my JCP&L bill was over $340, compared to just $66 the month before.

Yes, it’s been a scorcher, and my old Cape Cod-style home has window air conditioning and poor insulation, all things that can drive up a bill. But NJ Advance Media heard from dozens of readers who said they also had shockingly high electric bills, including one woman who said her bill was over $300 for a one-bedroom apartment.

We talked to energy experts and state officials to get to the bottom of these sky-high bills. Here’s what they had to say:

Woah! My bill is a lot higher than last month. What gives?!

It’s not just that you’re using more — the price of electricity has actually gone up.

Electricity supply costs are set at two points in the process: first, at an auction by PJM Interconnection, a grid operator that sells power to 13 states. The second is a yearly auction at the state level, where Atlantic City Electric, PSE&G, Jersey Central Power & Light and Rockland Energy set prices.

PJM saw its rates spike more than 800%, while the local providers hiked rates between 17% and 20%.

Both rate hikes took effect on June 1.

Four costs go into the average ratepayer’s bill: transmission grid operation, capacity, wholesale energy, and distributing electricity, Abraham Silverman, an energy researcher at Johns Hopkins University, said.

“All four of those are going up at the same time,” Silverman said. “Which is why our (bills) are so noticeable.”

Hasn’t it also been hotter than usual?

It sure has. Some parts of New Jersey saw nearly as many 90-degree days in June and July as they usually do for an entire summer. And even without factoring in the oppressive humidity, there’s been several 100-degree days.

This particularly hot, humid period is making air-cooling systems work harder, and the harder the AC has to work, the more electricity it’s going to use, Chris Hoeing, a spokesman from Jersey Central Power & Light said.

But it’ll get better in the fall when temperatures drop, right?

Cooler months will be cheaper than this sweltering summer, but some problems aren’t going away.

Data centers, the buildings that house the computers that power AI, are huge energy users. The increased demand caused by these data centers have caused energy prices to increase and, in turn, bills to go up, New Jersey BPU president Christine Guhl-Sadovy said.

Meanwhile, PJM has been slow to bring new electricity generators on the grid. Power plants are stuck in the process of getting connected to the grid, something that should take two years, but often takes at least four.

“The process for bringing new generators online and getting them studied by the utility is now really broken,” Silverman said.

What can I do to save some money right now?

Experts agree small changes can lead to big savings. Raising the thermostat by 7 to 10 degrees for eight hours a day can save as much as 10% on heating and cooling. Even two degrees can make a difference, Guhl-Sadovy said.

Running heat-bearing appliances, like dishwashers or dryers, at night when it is coolest, unplugging electronics while not in use, and turning off lights when leaving a room are also small, easy changes you can make today. You can also swap out any old lightbulbs for LED ones.

I’m willing to invest in my home. What kind of improvements will help cut energy costs?

Getting a home energy audit is the first step in identifying how to save money on utility bills. Many utility companies offer such assessments, sometimes at no cost.

For summer, keep cool air in and heat out by sealing windows and doors. In winter, rely less on a furnace by adding insulation to your home.

Upgrading old appliances to energy-efficient models can also help.

Those looking for a bigger investment can bypass these utility rates by installing solar panels. While expensive upfront, it can have major long-term savings.

I really can’t afford my bill. What assistance programs are out there?

There are several bill assistance programs on the BPU and utility companies’ websites that customers can take advantage of, including the Universal Service Fund program that provides a utility bill credit to moderate and low-income households.

“These rate increases have a real impact, particularly on people who have trouble affording their electric bills. And it results in their changing their behavior in ways that can be very detrimental to certainly their happiness, but also to their public health,” Silverman said.

Very-low-income residents are also eligible for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance program to help with heating and cooling bills.

In addition to a $30 bill deferral program approved by the BPU for July and August, nearly all utility companies offer payment plans or bill deferrals to help offset the higher summer rates.

“We encourage people to take advantage of those; we want to make sure that people are safe and comfortable and that their bills are affordable,” Guhl-Sadovy said.