With the average utility bill in New Jersey set to skyrocket next month, the New Jersey state Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee passed a package of bills on Monday aimed at offsetting the rising costs.

Some of the legislation would direct the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to take action supportive of ratepayers, conduct studies on increased demand and potential new supply, and to investigate how the process of electricity rates are set by the state’s grid operator, PJM Interconnection.

Another bill, sponsored by Assemblyman Avi Schnall (D-Lakewood), would require the BPU to use a stricter standard when setting utilities’ return on equity rates — the rate at which they are allowed to profit on infrastructure and other investments.

Under current law, utilities make investments into their infrastructure and then recoup those costs by raising customer rates—while making a profit on top of it. These rate hikes must be approved by the BPU, but there is currently no appropriate mechanism to cap excessive profits that directly impact consumers.

Schnall’s legislation would require the BPU to determine the lowest reasonable amount of profit that utility companies should be able to make and cap rate hikes accordingly.

The committee also approved a bill that would require public utilities to redistribute excess profits to their customers.

Republicans on the committee pushed back, noting that the solutions being offered are to problems which were allowed to develop under Democratic control.

“This resolution doubles down on the very policy choices that have been pursued for the past seven years, which have brought the people of this state to their current level of anxiety and outrage over the present and future cost of energy,” Republican Assemblymen Alex Sauickie, Christian Barranco and Paul Kanitra, wrote in opposition.

According to the BPU, the average monthly bill is projected to increase between 17% and 20.2% depending on the service territory.

Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) customers, which includes most of Ocean and Monmouth counties, will see the smallest increases as a result of the auction, with an average increase of $22.67 per month.

In New Jersey, there are several assistance programs available for people who are having trouble paying their electricity bills: Universal Service Fund, Fresh Start Program, Payment Assistance for Gas and Electric (PAGE) Program, Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, Lifeline, NJ Shares, and NJ Comfort Partners.

Additionally, the Winter Termination Program is a utility-led program that protects qualifying ratepayers from service disruption during the winter months from November 15 until March 15.