WATCH LIVE: Van Drew calls for federal audit into Atlantic City Electric

Congressman Jeff Van Drew is calling for a federal audit into what many have called an unexplainable increase in local electric bills.

The congressman put together a public hearing in Mays Landing with the help of local meteorologist Nick "Nor'easter Nick" Pittman who started a petition after hearing stories about people's Atlantic City Electric bills increase as much as four to five times what they had been.

The increases "are unlike anywhere else in the country," Van Drew said. "It is nothing short of our own energy crisis."

He pointed to one constituent's bill who allowed him to use her name.

Lisa Thomas saw a usage increase of 42 percent from July through August of 2023 to this past July through August.

But the increase in cost was not 42 percent, he noted. Instead, her bill went from $433 to $1,269, a 293 percent increase.

"The numbers don't add up," he said.

Additionally, he alleged that Atlantic City Electric is now sending out non-union workers to knock on the doors of "people who have always paid their bills on time" to tell them to pay up or be shut off before Nov. 15, which is when the company no longer is allowed to shut customers off due to expected frigid temperatures that begin around that time.

The hearing is ongoing via the livestream above.

Van Drew and other members of Congress will listen to testimony from community leaders and energy policy experts to determine the causes of the rising power bills.

The hearing will also review local, state and national energy policy with congressional representatives from across the country participating.

In addition to Pittman, witnesses scheduled include Little Egg Harbor Township Mayor Blaise Scibetta, N.J. Farm Bureau President Allen Carter and Garden State Initiative President Audrey Lane.

Representatives from both Exelon — Atlantic City Electric's parent company — and the Board of Public Utilities were invited but declined, Van Drew said.

CLICK HERE to watch live on YouTube.