The state Board of Public Utilities is requiring New Jersey’s four electricity utilities to submit proposals to defer rate increases expected to begin June 1 until later in the year, to reduce their immediate impact.

The increases in the supply portion of customers’ bills, anticipated to be in the 17% to 20% range, are the result of a power capacity auction held last year by PJM Interconnection, the electricity grid operator for all or parts of 13 states, including New Jersey, and the District of Columbia.

Democrats say the BPU’s April 23 move will defer the rate increases from the summer period, when usage is at its peak. That, they say, will reduce the pain for ratepayers.

Republicans argue that Democrats are using the BPU to delay the impact of voter anger over rising rates until after the November election. They say the failed energy policies of Gov. Phil Murphy are to blame for the recent surges in energy prices.

This fall voters will select a new governor and cast ballots for all 80 seats in the state Assembly.

Cape May County’s state senator, Michael Testa, called the move by the BPU “dishonest” and “irresponsible.” Testa has taken to calling the BPU the “Bureau of Propaganda and Untruths.” He has introduced legislation to abolish the agency, a bill not likely to get a great deal of traction.

Democratic Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin defended the action by the BPU, which, he says, “would ease the impact during the summer, when energy use and bills are at their highest.”

Coughlin did not comment on what happens when the rates do go into effect later this year.

A request to the BPU for clarification on what happens to the portion that was deferred and whether it might boomerang back on consumers at a later time did not get a response before deadline.

The BPU’s action on the June 1 price increases does not include a possible increase in another portion of South Jersey customers’ bills. The agency is scheduled to decide in August whether Atlantic City Electric should be granted an 8% hike in the distribution costs portion of its customers’ bills, as reimbursement for infrastructure improvements.

Coughlin said the Democrats in the Legislature will remain “laser-focused on controlling the cost of utilities.” Murphy recently signed legislation containing various measures aimed at reducing sticker shock from rising bills.

But last summer, in a non-election year for the Legislature, that laser focus was not there, according to Republican Sens. Anthony Bucco and Testa. For them, “it’s a five-alarm fire in the Democrat Party to contain the danger of their costly, failing energy policies before the election this fall.”

Contact the reporter, Vince Conti, at vconti@cmcherald.com.