Assemblymen Alex Sauickie, Christian Barranco and Brian Rumpf are urging the Senate and Assembly committee chairs to invite New Jersey Board of Public Utilities Commissioner Zenon Christodoulou to testify at tomorrow’s joint legislative hearing on rising energy costs.

Their request follows Christodoulou’s stunning public criticism of the BPU’s internal process and leadership during a board meeting on Wednesday—an extraordinary departure from the board’s typically unanimous and tightly controlled proceedings.

“Commissioner Christodoulou recently delivered a candid and concerning critique of the BPU’s internal decision-making process during a public board meeting,” the lawmakers wrote. “His comments were not only unusual for the typically unanimous and non-controversial nature of BPU proceedings—they were deeply troubling.”

Christodoulou, a Murphy appointee and former vice chair of the Somerset County Democrats, said dissenting views are often “dismissed and marginalized,” and warned that BPU staff sometimes begin with “expected results” and shape their analysis to fit those outcomes.

“The public deserves full transparency and accountability from the agencies tasked with regulating energy policy,” the lawmakers said. “Commissioner Christodoulou’s willingness to speak out suggests he may offer valuable insights into how internal processes and political pressures may be affecting decisions with direct consequences for ratepayers.”

Governor Phil Murphy recently announced that utilities are being asked to submit plans to delay scheduled rate hikes, calling them “plans to ease costs.” The assemblymen say that makes Christodoulou’s critique all the more relevant and urgent.

The joint hearing of the Senate Select Committee on Energy Policy and the Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee is scheduled for Friday.