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The Help You Need…When You Need It Most If you don’t have enough money to pay your energy bills, there are a number of state-sponsored programs that can help. Some, like the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and Universal Service Fund (USF), are dedicated to helping households with limited income. Others, such as the New Jersey Lifeline program, help seniors and disabled adults. NJSHARES helps provide relief to those who have unexpectedly fallen upon hard times, regardless of income.
For more information about the eligibility requirements for these programs, read the information below, or visit pseg.com/billassistance. You can also call the appropriate number listed below.
LIHEAP and USF:
The Low Income House Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps people with low income pay their winter heating bills. The Universal Service Fund (USF) helps low-income customers year round. If you are eligible, USF can lower the amount you pay for your gas and electric. You can apply for LIHEAP and USF with a single application and may be eligible for a LIHEAP grant even if heat is included in your rent. Check the household income limits provided at www.pseg.com/liheap.
Generally, LIHEAP applications are accepted from November 1 to March 31 (although the exact dates vary from year to year). If the LIHEAP application period has passed, you can still apply for help from the USF, since USF applications are accepted all year. You must reapply to both programs each year.
Please note: If you received USF on your previous electric or gas account (with PSE&G or another New Jersey utility company), you may be eligible for USF benefits on your new PSE&G account. Please call PSE&G at 1-800-436-7734 to let us know.
To get an application or more information about these programs:
- Call 1-800-510-3102 for the LIHEAP program, or 1-866-240-1347 for the USF program
- Visit www.pseg.com/liheap
- Visit a PSE&G Customer Service Center near you. (See page 14 for a listing of all Customer Service Center locations.)
NJ Lifeline Credit Program:
Are you at least 65 years old? Are you 18 years or older and getting Social Security because you are disabled? If you said yes to either of these questions, NJ Lifeline may be able to help you.
The program will pay up to $225 a year towards your electric or gas bill. Applications are accepted all year. Income guidelines are set each January. To find out if you qualify, or to obtain an application:
- Call 1-800-792-9745
- Write to NJ Lifeline, P.O. Box 714, Trenton, NJ 08625-0714 to receive an application in the mail.
- Visit a PSE&G Customer Service Center near you. (See page 14 for a listing of PSE&G Customer Service Center locations.)
NJ SHARES:
If you need temporary help paying your PSE&G bills because of a short-term financial problem, NJ SHARES may be able to help. To qualify, you must show a history of paying your bills on time, and that something happened that keeps you from paying now. Those who receive LIHEAP and/or USF are NOT eligible. NJ SHARES applications are available all year.
To find out where to apply:
- Call 1-866-NJSHARES (657-4273)
- Visit the NJ SHARES Web site at www.njshares.org to find a community-based agency near you.
For information about the programs listed above:
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Credit Problems? Customers who do not have good credit may need to pay a security deposit before service can start. PSE&G will hold the deposit for about 12 months. After that, we will review your payment history during the previous year. If your credit is good, we will refund the security deposit, plus interest. The interest rate is set each year by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities.
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Make Your Home More Energy Efficient! NJ Comfort Partners helps you save energy and money if you live in a low-income household and meet program qualifications. You must have a PSE&G account and live in a 1-4 unit building. Homes less than 5 years old are excluded. For more information or to find out if you qualify, call 1-888-773-8326.
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Special Care for Special Customers For information about any of our services call 1-800-436-PSEG (7734):
ChildWatch Program:
We teach our children never to talk to strangers. We remind them to come straight home from school. We help them memorize our phone numbers and home addresses. We tell them to look for a policeman or fireman when they’re in trouble. And, if you haven’t yet, tell them that PSE&G employees are there to help them, too.
With hundreds of PSE&G field employees on the road every day, we’re always ready to lend a helping hand. Teach your children to recognize our vehicles marked with the PSE&G logo and a ChildWatch sticker on the side. So, if they’re lost, hurt or in trouble, they’ll know they can count on us. Our workers will be glad to call for assistance and stay with your child until emergency officials arrive.
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Life-sustaining equipment:
There’s a storm and power goes out in your neighborhood. You’re ill and need to breathe with an electrically powered respirator. Now what? Anyone who literally relies on electricity to stay alive would be in big trouble in a situation like this.
Be prepared:
- Have a backup life-support system, powered by either a generator
or battery.
- Inform fire and rescue personnel now! Also, let us know about your special needs by calling us at 1-800-436-PSEG (7734). You’ll receive priority power restoration in the event there is a loss of power.
Third Party Notification:
Your aging, ill or disabled parent or loved one may experience forgetfulness or uncertainty about financial matters and may overlook paying their PSE&G bill. If this happens, they may receive a notice that gas or electric service could be shut off. To help avoid this potentially unsafe situation, sign up for our Third Party Notification Service and put your mind at ease. Through the service, we’ll let you know if and when a shut-off notice is being sent.
- Call 1-800-436-PSEG (7734). The call and service are free.
For the physically challenged:
PSE&G offers free services to help blind or visually impaired customers...
- Give us a call at 1-800-436-PSEG (7734) and we'll start sending your electric and gas bills in extra-large type for easier reading. Also, at your request, Braille-like markings can be placed on standard oven regulator knobs, at no charge.
- For our hearing-and speech-impaired customers … We’ll provide you with a typewriter-like device to hook up to your phone. This way, you’ll be able to communicate with PSE&G any time you like.
Saving energy, saving money:
Programs are available in New Jersey that can help you save energy and money. For example, the Cool Advantage and Warm Advantage programs give you cash rebates when you buy and install qualified energy-efficient electric cooling and gas heating systems.
To learn more about these and other energy efficiency programs available in New Jersey, visit www.njcleanenergy.com.
For energy-saving tips, visit www.pseg.com/saveenergy where you can complete a home energy analysis, and request a FREE “Energy Savers” brochure, or call 1-800-854-4444. (Back to Top)
Remember These Energy-Saving Tips Winter energy-saving tips:
- Lower your thermostat. Set your thermostat as low as is comfortable
in the winter. Lowering your thermostat at night, or using a programmable thermostat to adjust the temperature when you’re away, can also help save energy.
- Keep warm air inside. If you have storm windows, make sure they are down and in place. Raise shades and open drapes during the day. Close shades and curtains at night.
- Properly insulate your attic, basement, crawl spaces, ceilings and water heater. This will increase comfort and create a more even temperature.
Summer energy-saving tips:
- Raise your thermostat. Set the thermostat of your central air conditioner at the highest comfortable temperature, or use a programmable thermostat to adjust the temperature when you’re away.
- Keep out the heat. Close blinds, shades and curtains facing the sun.
This will keep out the sun’s heat, and help fans and air conditioners cool more efficiently.
- Minimize use of appliances that produce heat, such as stoves and dryers.
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