New Jersey Republican gubernatorial nominee Jack Ciattarelli criticized Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy’s energy policies on Wednesday, blaming them for electricity costs soaring statewide.

Most New Jersey households were hit with a 17%-20% rate hike starting in June, approved by New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities. Critics have tied the spike in energy costs in part to Murphy's decision to shut down the state's nuclear and coal power plants, without setting up meaningful replacements.

"When Phil Murphy took office, New Jersey was an electricity exporter. Today, we're an importer," Ciattarelli said Wednesday in an interview on FOX Business' "The Bottom Line." "When you go to the exchanges to import your electricity, you're competing with other states. This is what's driving the price

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