Concerned about energy costs soaring this winter, Assemblyman Alex Sauickie is proposing relief for beleaguered homeowners already facing high energy bills. 

“President Biden’s war on American energy production is already costing New Jersey residents more to drive and to power their homes,” Sauickie (R-Ocean) said. “The state needs to step in and provide whatever assistance it can to offset the costs consumers must pay because of these disastrous federal policies.” 

Sauickie has introduced a bill (A4986) creating a sales tax exemption for the purchase of natural gas and electricity for residential customers during the winter months. Specifically, the tax break would apply from December 2022 until April 2023, a few weeks after the official end of winter.

Public utility companies that provide natural gas or electricity to residences would be required to deduct from each customer’s bill the amount of the sales tax. Home heating oil is taxed differently, so Sauickie is exploring ways to address those costs.

“Even economists who served in the Obama administration warned President Biden that his reckless spending would send inflation skyrocketing, and he ignored them. Now everyone’s literally paying the price,” Sauickie said. “Pouring more debt-fueled dollars into a recovering economy while supply chain foul-ups were limiting supply created the general inflation problem, and Biden’s active suppression of American energy production did the rest. The state recently approved double-digit rate increases for our four largest gas providers, which are expected to hike the average household’s energy bill by about $300 annually. With many experts predicting a harsh winter ahead, the state must do what it can to help residents. My bill is a step in the right direction,” Sauickie concluded.

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