(Newark, N.J. – May 17, 2021) The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities has declared this week Utility Assistance Week to remind customers to act quickly if they have fallen behind on their utility bills due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The state’s moratorium on utility shut-offs is expected to end June 30, and many customers are unaware that they may qualify for assistance.

“COVID-19 has inflicted financial hardship on many of our customers and left them struggling to pay bills,” said Fred Daum, executive director of Customer Operations at PSE&G. “We have seen the number of customers seriously behind on their bills double since the pandemic began and we are here to support our customers as we all move forward and recover from the pandemic together.”
 
Recognizing that customers may be unaware of new and updated payment assistance resources, PSE&G is helping customers get caught up on their utility bills. The utility is raising awareness of the resources available to help customers pay their bills. Along with public service announcements on social media, television and radio, the utility has created a dedicated webpage for customers with valuable information about payment assistance programs, pandemic relief and new payment options.

Visit: pseg.com/HelpNow

Anticipating the changing needs of their customers impacted by the pandemic, the utility is offering more flexible payment options. Qualified customers can make a Deferred Payment Arrangement (DPA) with no money down and extended time to pay off their balance. A customer can select a DPA to pay their balance over a 12-, 18- or 24-month period. To make a Deferred Payment Arrangement, log in to My Account or call 800-357-2262.

Gov. Phil Murphy suspended utility shut-offs of residential customers unable to pay their bills. That moratorium is expected to end on June 30. That is also the deadline to sign up for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program one of the primary payment assistance programs.

“At PSE&G, we want to keep all customers connected to their utility service if we can,” Daum said.  “You may even see our community outreach teams in neighborhoods, going door-to-door to make customers aware of the resources available to help with utility bills. We are committed to partnering with customers to help keep them connected and get them back on track, together.”

Visit pseg.com/HelpNow to learn about payment assistance programs, requirements, deadlines and resources.

Below, please find additional information about assistance programs. 

General Information
NJ 2-1-1 Utility Assistance  or 2-1-1; 800-510-3102

Low Income Assistance Programs
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) or 800-510-3102
Universal Service Fund (USF) or 800-510-3102

Moderate Income Assistance Programs
Payment Assistance Gas and Electric (PAGE) or 855-465-8783
NJ SHARES (NJS) or 866-NJSHARES (657-4273)

Senior/Disabled Adult Assistance Programs 
New Jersey Lifeline or 800-792-9745
 
PSE&G
Public Service Electric & Gas Co. (PSE&G) is New Jersey’s oldest and largest gas and electric delivery public utility, serving three-quarters of the state’s population. PSE&G is the winner of the ReliabilityOne Award for superior electric system reliability in the Mid-Atlantic region. In 2020, PSE&G was named the most trusted combined gas & electric utility in the East Region, by the Cogent Syndicated Brand Trust Index. PSE&G is a subsidiary of Public Service Enterprise Group Inc. (PSEG) (NYSE:PEG), a diversified energy company. PSEG has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for North America for 13 consecutive years (www.pseg.com).