The following is the NJ Spotlight - Op-Ed “Spreading the Word About Utility Payment Assistance” by Tom Churchelow - president of the New Jersey Utilities Association. He also serves on the Board of New Jersey SHARES

 

TOM CHURCHELOW | MAY 12, 2022 | OPINION, ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

 

Customers who have received a shutoff notice or know they're on the verge of getting one should reach out now for assistance.

 

The pandemic placed an immense burden on millions of New Jerseyans. One of the consequences is that we now have over half a billion dollars in utility bills that are past due. That said, New Jersey’s utility companies do not want anyone to have their power or water shut off — ever. That is why we hope and ask that those who need assistance with their utility bills take advantage of one of the many programs that can help. Meanwhile, every elected official, and every utility, energy, environmental and consumer advocate must do all they can to spread information about these programs.

 

We hoped that during the worst days of the pandemic people would avail themselves of the help that was out there. That, however, did not happen. In fact, the opposite occurred. We saw a steep decline in customer engagement for assistance. That is a big reason why we are now facing this half a billion in arrearages for overdue bills. Customer participation in assistance programs has been low despite there being new levels of assistance available from federal funds.

 

 

Federal dollars are there though. The programs exist and they exist for the express purpose of helping those in need. Utility companies want to work with customers on payment plans. Again, shutoffs are not an option anyone wants to see. If a customer has received a notice or knows they are on the cusp of getting one, they should reach out, right now, for assistance. The first step can be contacting your utility directly at the customer service number listed on your bill or calling 211 for information on assistance programs.

 

There are several programs available, so even if someone does not think they are eligible for help, they should still attempt to find out. The Universal Service Fund (USF) provides monthly credits for utility bills. Part of USF is the Fresh Start Program, which provides unlimited debt forgiveness for past-due balances and helps improve a customer’s payment record. Under Fresh Start, if a USF customer pays current charges on monthly utility bills in full for one-year, prior overdue balances are eliminated.

 

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) can help low-income residents with their heating and cooling bills, and make provisions for emergency heating-system services and emergency fuel assistance within the Home Energy Assistance Program. If someone needs help paying their bills, they should not hesitate to apply online for USF or LIHEAP at www.nj.gov/dca/dcaid or call 800-510-3102.

 

 

Payment Assistance for Gas and Electric (PAGE) is a state-funded program that provides utility-payment assistance for low- to moderate-income families in the state. PAGE is funded through the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities and administered through the Affordable Housing Alliance. Customers can find out if they are eligible for and apply for PAGE at https://njpoweron.org/page/ or call 732-982-8710.

 

If someone is unsure as to whether they qualify for a program or has questions about what programs are available, NJ SHARES is an excellent source of information. NJ SHARES connects low- and moderate-income households to available resources and it works in all 21 counties. It can be reached at https://njshares.org/ or 609-883-1626.