By Richard Sodon, AARP-NJ
As the new administration’s transition teams publish their reports, we see a clear and strong alignment with Lifelong Strong NJ’s call for a Multisector Plan for Aging. With cost of living a top concern of older residents, the administration’s focus on affordability and efficiency provides opportunities for changing how we look at aging in our state.
The Report of the Energy Affordability and Reliability Action Team and its analysis of the dire state of utility affordability hits at the heart of LLSNJ’s call for an MPA. For too many older New Jerseyans, the rising cost of simply keeping the lights on threatens their ability to remain in the communities they’ve spent a lifetime building. Utility affordability isn’t a niche economic concern. It touches health, safety, independence, and every commitment we make to ensure New Jerseyans can age with dignity. As Lifelong Strong NJ has emphasized, aging policy must be integrated across every sector, from housing to healthcare to essential services. And utilities sit at the center of that ecosystem.
Why Utility Costs Are Pushing Older New Jerseyans to the Brink
New Jersey already has some of the highest utility rates in the country, and the June 2025 $20‑per month increase has made an already tough landscape even harder. With more rate hikes on the horizon, older residents, especially those on fixed incomes, are facing untenable choices between electricity, medicine, food, and safe indoor temperatures.
An AARP NJ/Sienna College poll makes the urgency clear:
- 93% of New Jersey voters aged 50+ say utility affordability is a very or somewhat important issue.
- 90% worry that their bills will continue to rise.
According to results of the new administration’s General Public Survey, 40% of 35–54-year-olds identified energy as a primary concern. In a 2024 survey by NJAAW, 26% of residents age 60+ were already struggling with utility costs – that was before the recent increases and well before it got on the radar of state leadership. And, it has only gotten worse.
Utility insecurity isn’t just inconvenient; it’s dangerous. According to the CDC, older adults are significantly more vulnerable to extreme heat, and the National Weather Service supports this idea in that it calculated extreme heat kills more people annually than any other weather event. Without reliable and affordable cooling, the health consequences can be catastrophic.
This is why AARP NJ has long advocated for fair oversight and stronger protections against unreasonable rates and excessive utility profits.
And like most other issues, what works for older residents benefits all residents. This is a multi-generational problem, with people of all ages, throughout the state impacted by utility costs.
Why This Matters for a Multisector Plan for Aging
Lifelong Strong NJ’s call for a Multisector Plan for Aging (MPA) is rooted in the understanding that aging touches every policy domain, including utilities. Safe, reliable, and affordable energy isn’t a luxury; it’s foundational to aging in place:
- Health: Extreme heat and extreme cold are life‑threatening for older adults.
- Economic security: Rising rates squeeze already strained household budgets.
- Housing stability: Costs of running a home, like high utility bills, push some older adults out of their homes.
- Equity: Residents with low or moderate incomes suffer disproportionately.
When utilities become unaffordable, the entire promise of “aging with dignity in your own home and community” begins to crumble.
Aging in New Jersey Should Not Mean Losing the Ability to Afford Your Utilities
Older New Jerseyans have contributed a lifetime of talent, tax dollars, caregiving, and community leadership. They deserve the ability to remain in their homes with the essentials intact: electricity, heat, cooling, water, and telecommunications.
Utility affordability is not optional if New Jersey aims to be a state where people can truly live and age well. It must be baked directly into our Multisector Plan for Aging.
New Jersey can be a place where older adults thrive but only if we ensure they can afford to keep the lights on.
When we fight for fair rates and stronger consumer protections, we aren’t just lowering bills. We’re strengthening the foundation of an age‑friendly New Jersey; one where older residents can stay, belong, and continue contributing to the communities they love.