With this winter’s freezing temperatures, many of us can’t help but daydream about the start of spring. And if you’re planning to take on any home projects once that time comes, now’s the time to start planning.

Whether you’re looking for a contractor to renovate your home, need expert insight on a DIY project or simply want some inspiration, the 36th Annual New Jersey Home & Garden Show is the place to be.

Running from Feb. 27 to March 1 at the New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center in Edison, the show will feature nearly 200 home industry experts. This includes contractors, interior designers, landscapers, kitchen designers, HVAC technicians and more.

Exhibitors, which primarily consist of small businesses, come from companies that are both local to New Jersey and from other parts of the country. There is a full list of businesses that are expected to be in attendance available online.

“The show is like HGTV, Pinterest and a contractor referral list all smashed into one,” said Eric Udler, the producer of the New Jersey Home & Garden Show. “You can see everything and compare different professionals all in one place.”

Featured presentations

In addition to exhibitors, the New Jersey Home & Garden Show will also have featured guest speakers giving specialized presentations throughout the weekend, as it does each year.

Returning for the third year is Don Engebretson, a gardening and landscaping expert known as the Renegade Gardener. He’ll be giving presentations on two topics: “12 Pro Landscaper Tips I Bet You Don’t Know” and “Yes You Can! Landscape Design for Homeowners.”

Homeowners are invited to bring photos of their yards to his presentations, as he’ll be offering free tips and recommendations for improving the space. And on Saturday at 2 p.m., he’ll be doing so alongside Steve Trevelise of New Jersey 101.5.

“We never bring somebody back year after year. We’re always trying to get something new. But he keeps coming up with new ideas for us, which is great,” Udler said.

New Jersey’s electricity rates will be stable this year due to price cap

Last year’s spike was driven by an increase in capacity costs on the regional grid, said BPU President Christine Guhl-Sadovy. These costs, determined by auctions held by grid operator PJM Interconnection, reflect payments to power plants and large users to ensure enough power will be available to meet peak demand on the hottest and coldest days in future years.

These costs have shot up recently, largely due to projections of skyrocketing demand from data centers.

Guhl-Sadovy credited Thursday’s relatively stable results to a price cap or “collar” on capacity costs negotiated by Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro.

“That collar is really what has helped to keep these prices stable, or relatively stable,” she said. “That was a good thing for customers.”

Winning auction prices for all four utilities increased slightly compared to last year’s results, according to the board. But these increases mean different bill impacts for customers of each utility based on different customer profiles and load, board officials said.

The prices customers will pay in June reflect not only electricity supply procured during this month’s auction, but also during auctions held in 2024 and 2025. Each year, results of the auction held three years prior drop out of this equation. Lipman said the 2023 auction, no longer factored into customers’ supply rates starting this June, was held when natural gas prices were higher, driving higher costs to produce electricity.

Guhl-Sadovy declined to offer details about the bill credits mandated by Gov. Sherrill, saying they still need to be approved by the board. Guhl-Sadovy said the board is “working to ensure that we are effectuating the governor’s executive order as quickly as possible.”