Brian Lair on WNYC.

Now we continue our election series, 30 issues and 30 days.

Issue number three, who can stop the soaring cost of electricity in New Jersey.

Since June 1st, according to the Nonpartisan Regional Plan Association, the average residential

customer in New Jersey has seen their monthly electricity bill increase about 17 to 20 percent,

depending on which utility company serves them.

The candidates for governor, Republican

Jack Chitterelli, and Democrat Mikey Sherrill are both highlighting the issue and no surprise

blaming each other or at least each other's parties. We'll talk in a minute to Politico's

New Jersey infrastructure reporter, Rai Ravard, and invite your calls and text. But let's listen to the candidates

a little bit first. They did address the issue in Sunday night's gubernatorial debate at

Ryder University. And because we have the luxury of time on this two-hour show, we're going to

play the full exchange, which runs just under three minutes.

It begins with the moderator posing the question.

We're going to Michael. Michael is an alum of Wright University and from Lawrenceville.

Michael, your question is going to Jack Chitterelli.

The back and forth blame on electricity rates has grown a little tiresome, and frankly, I would

like to hear a little more specifics because we all know that there are many factors that contribute

to our rate increases. So without blaming each other, what specifically you're going to do to tackle

things like the grid operator, state mandates, and other impacts that rise our costs?

So Michael, I don't think it's blame when you're giving facts and here are the facts.

When Phil Murphy took office, we were an electricity exporter. We produced more electricity than we needed.

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