Keeping Your Energy Affordable
Energy is a huge part of NJ families’ budgets — affordability matters
Our world sometimes seems to be changing at a record pace, but one thing that remains constant for the people of New Jersey (and the whole nation, for that matter) is that affordability matters.
Being able to pay for daily necessities like groceries, housing, transportation and energy has been the driving issue for Garden State residents for a long time now. In 2025, a Rutgers University poll said that nearly 60% of New Jersey voters named taxes and affordability as their top issues. In 2024, Rutgers found that the most pressing concerns for voters were economic, and that over 40% had trouble paying for utilities. The top issue in 2022? The economy and affordability.*
Year after year, New Jersey residents tell us they need help affording their basic needs. And no need is more fundamental than heating their home.
Happily, our state has the resources and the ability to prioritize affordability for the energy that keeps us safe and warm. We can do it while keeping our building-related emissions in check. But this requires a diverse array of traditional and emerging energy sources.
“All of the above” is the right energy policy
Today, New Jersey homes use a mix of sources to stay warm, produce hot water, and power vital appliances and systems. These sources include natural gas, heating oil, propane, and electricity.
What homeowners want is the ability to choose the best energy source for their unique needs and budgets. Limiting their choice to only electricity is a surefire way to increase costs for everyday families in the form of:
- Expensive home heating modifications and conversions
- Increased demand for electricity, leading to more service issues and higher prices for consumers. Bear in mind that our state has already seen the highest electricity rate increases in the mid-Atlantic region recently — and we have some of the highest rates in the country.
- Inflated household energy consumption in the winter, when electric heat pumps need to run constantly
Every home and family is unique. We cannot afford legislation that takes choice away from residents and makes heating their home — not to mention driving their cars, cooking their food and caring for their families — more expensive.
Comfort Zone:
Stay in the Comfort Zone when you heat your home with a zero-carbon alternative that enables you to maintain your same heating system.
Cold Days, Cold Nights:
In an average-sized home the estimated cost for electric heat pumps in just two rooms is $4,000 to $7,000. Cost aside, this is only two rooms! For the cost of living in New Jersey, you should really get to enjoy your entire house, regardless of the weather.
Toasty and Cozy? Not Exactly. And at What Cost?
Yes, in theory you can fully heat your home by putting an electric heat pump in every room. But when temperatures drop below freezing, your electric heat pump may not be able to generate enough heat to keep you warm. And $20,000 is a lot of money for a lot of uncertainty.
The cost of a home’s electric heat conversion
- Comfort zone: Using your current energy source to heat your home while shifting to a low-carbon alternative like Bioheat® fuel means zero conversion costs. You can maintain your present heating system or upgrade to a more efficient model — losing no warmth in the process.
- Targeted electric heat additions: Some households choose to augment their traditional systems with electric heat pumps for unheated rooms. In an average-sized home, the estimated cost for electric heat pumps in just two rooms is $4,000 to $7,000. It’s a considerable cost for supplemental heating.
- A big investment, but what’s the return? Yes, you can fully heat your home by putting an electric heat pump in every room for $20,000 or so. But when temperatures drop below freezing, these electric units may not be able to generate enough heat — many homes need a boiler or a furnace as a backup. You’re paying a lot of money for a lot of uncertainty.
Cost-effective green energy, available today
Right now, in neighborhoods from Vernon to Red Bank, households are using a range of affordable and green energy sources. These include Bioheat® fuel — a blend of ultra-low-sulfur heating oil and renewable biodiesel that reduces greenhouse-gas emissions without sacrificing heat production. Bioheat fuel is used in countless New Jersey homes already.
Emerging low-carbon and zero-carbon fuels like renewable propane and renewable natural gas are becoming more widely available. And these greener traditional fuels will work, without modification, in modern high-efficiency equipment that lowers household energy usage.
All these options can be used in place of or in concert with electric heating and hot water systems, allowing homeowners to find the home comfort equipment that is best for their needs and wallet.
It’s important that New Jersey preserves energy choice, which will help families that are already struggling with everyday costs to keep their heads above water. Connect with us to learn about heating alternatives and share your thoughts on options in your area.
* Sources: https://www.rutgers.edu/news/majority-voters-cite-taxes-or-affordability-new-jerseys-top-problems-over-half-say-state-wrong; https://www.rutgers.edu/news/new-jersey-voters-rank-economy-no-1-issue-followed-immigration-character-and-reproductive; https://eagletonpoll.rutgers.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Rutgers-Eagleton-Poll-US-Ratings-October-2022.pdf