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Payment Assistance Programs

LIHEAP/USF: If you need help paying your bill, you may be eligible for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) or Universal Service Fund (USF) – one application for both programs.

LIHEAP/USF

If you need help paying your bill, you may be eligible for LIHEAP or USF – one application for both programs.

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NJ SHARES: If you have an outstanding balance on your bill, you may be eligible to receive assistance through NJ SHARES.

SHARES

If you have an outstanding balance on your bill, you may be eligible to receive assistance through SHARES.

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NJ Lifeline for Seniors and Disabled Adults: If you’re a senior citizen or disabled adult, you may be eligible to receive an annual credit on your bill.

NJ Lifeline for Seniors and Disabled Adults

You may be eligible to receive an annual credit on your bill.

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The state of New Jersey offers multiple payment assistance programs for residential customers struggling to pay their energy bill. Descriptions of the programs, application periods and eligibility guidelines are available below. You can also download a flyer in English and Spanish to learn more about the programs here.

To apply for these programs, the following documents* are required:

  • Social security cards, if applicable (entire household)
  • Photo identification for each household member, if applicable (driver’s license, passport or government-issued ID)
  • Proof of income for the past 30 days (entire household)
  • Proof of address (rental lease, mortgage statement, tax bill, or deed)
  • Most recent PSE&G bill (all pages)

*Note: Other documents may be required. Click here for a full list.

 

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

LIHEAP is a federally-funded program that helps low-moderate income households with an average of $360 toward their heating bill (all fuel types) and $300 toward medically-necessary cooling costs.* Homeowners and renters (even if heat is included in your rent) are eligible to apply, and you don’t need to have a past-due balance.

*To apply for medically-necessary cooling costs, a doctor’s note is required for one household member.  

When to apply: 

  • Online applications accepted from October 1 – June 30. 

How to apply:

  • Apply online here. 

LIHEAP and USF (program details below) use the same application. If you apply for LIHEAP, you are also applying for USF.

Universal Service Fund (USF) and Fresh Start Program (FSP)

USF helps make bills more affordable by providing a $20 to $200 monthly energy bill credit. Homeowners and renters are eligible to apply, and you don’t need to have a past-due balance.

Part of USF, the Fresh Start Program (FSP)* offers forgiveness of past-due balances of over $60. Customers who apply for USF will be screened for FSP and do not have to apply for FSP. Customers are only eligible for FSP once every 5 years.

*FSP is administered by PSE&G and made possible by the NJ Board of Public Utilities.

When to apply:

  • Online applications accepted year-round.

How to apply:

  • Apply online here.

For more information or to find an agency near you to help with an application, call 1-800-510-3102 (Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.) or visit the NJ Department of Community Affairs Energy Assistance.

Note: LIHEAP and USF are administered by the Department of Community Affairs (DCA).

SHARES Energy Assistance Grants

SHARES is a non-profit organization that helps customers pay their energy bills, as well as other utility bills (phone, internet, water or wastewater). Homeowners and renters are eligible to apply, and you must have a past-due balance. The grants that are available through SHARES are:

  • Payment Assistance Gas and Electric (PAGE)
  • SMART Utility Assistance
  • SHARES Energy Assistance

Note: Due to the availability of funding, there are times when SHARES grants may be limited. If you have tried to apply and received a message that it is currently unavailable, SHARES encourages you to keep trying. As applications are processed, grant availability may open up at any time.

When to apply:

  • Online applications accepted year-round.

How to apply:

  • To apply for PAGE and SMART Utility, you must first complete the LIHEAP/USF application process. If you do not qualify for or have been denied from LIHEAP/USF, you may be eligible for SHARES Energy Assistance.
  • A "good faith" payment of up to $100 may be required when applying.
  • Apply online here.

For more information, call 1-866-657-4273 or visit SHARES.

Note: SHARES is made possible by the NJ Department of Treasury, NJ Board of Public Utilities and customer donations.

 

New Jersey Lifeline for Seniors and Disabled Adults

NJ Lifeline is a program for senior citizens, 65 years of age or older, or disabled adults who are at least 18 years of age and receive Social Security Title II Disability benefits. Eligible customers can receive an annual bill credit of $225.

To receive NJ Lifeline, your annual gross income (not the household income) must be less than $53,466 for a single person and less than $60,690 if married. Homeowners and renters are eligible to apply, and you don’t need to have a past-due balance.

When to apply:

  • Online applications accepted year-round. 

How to apply: 

  • Apply online here.

For more information, call 1-800-792-9745 or visit NJ Lifeline.

Note: NJ Lifeline is administered by the New Jersey Department of Human Services Division of Aging.