PEG Public Service Enterprise Group Inc

The utility wants customers being squeezed by the economy to know there is help available to pay winter heating bills NEWARK, N.J., Nov. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- PSE&G is urging its customers to see if they are eligible for help to pay their winter heating bills. Those who recently lost their jobs, or are now working fewer hours because of the economic downturn, may now qualify for assistance programs. The federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) has allocated $177 million to New Jersey to help low income households pay their winter heating bills. Individuals and families may now apply; applications will be accepted until April 30, 2010. Those who received LIHEAP benefits last year are urged to complete the recertification application to ensure they receive benefits this year as well. During this period of major economic uncertainty, we expect that many more households will be able to participate in the program for the first time. "LIHEAP benefits are based on last month's income, so people who did not qualify for the program previously might now be able to take advantage of these essential benefits," said Joseph A. Forline, PSE&G vice president for customer operations. "We are partnering with state government and community based organizations in an extensive effort to ensure that much needed assistance reaches every person eligible to receive it." New Jersey's LIHEAP program ranks eighth in the nation in terms of dollars available to help at-risk utility customers. LIHEAP will once again be fully funded, allowing the income eligibility levels to stay at 225% of the federal poverty level. That means a family of four with a monthly income at or below $4,135 may be eligible. Refer to the chart below for income eligibility. LIHEAP INCOME GUIDELINES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2010 Monthly Gross Monthly Gross Household Size Income Household Size Income 1 $2,031 7 $6,239 2 $2,732 8 $6,940 3 $3,434 9 $7,641 4 $4,135 10 $8,342 5 $4,836 11 $8,942 6 $5,537 12 $9,125 To determine eligibility for household sizes greater than 12, add $182 for each additional member. PSE&G customers can pick up an application at one of PSE&G's 16 customer service centers. Locations and hours are listed on customer bills. In addition, representatives from state designated LIHEAP agencies are available at the following centers to help income-eligible people complete the applications. Bergen County Bergen County CAP at PSE&G Hackensack Customer Service Center 214 Hudson Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601 Monday -Thursday, 9:00 am- 4 pm Essex County La Casa de Don Pedro at PSE&G Newark Customer Service Center 80 Park Plaza, Newark, NJ 07102 Monday-Friday, 9:00 am-4:00 pm La Casa de Don Pedro at PSE&G West Orange Customer Service Center 59 Main Street, West Orange, NJ 07052 Monday-Friday 9am-4:00 pm Hudson County P.A.C.O. at PSE&G Jersey City Customer Service Center 3 PATH Plaza, Jersey City, NJ 07306 Monday-Thursday 9am-4 pm Middlesex County Puerto Rican Action Board at PSE&G New Brunswick Customer Service Center 1 Penn Plaza, Albany & French Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 Fridays, 10 am-4pm PSE&G households may also be eligible for other valuable assistance programs. Applications and information about these programs are available on PSE&G's Web site at http://www.pseg.com/help. Information can also be found by calling the LIHEAP Hot Line at 1-800-510-3102 Monday through Saturday from 9am to 5pm. Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) is New Jersey's oldest and largest regulated gas and electric delivery utility, serving nearly three-quarters of the state's population. PSE&G is the winner of the ReliabilityOne Award for superior electric system reliability. PSE&G is a subsidiary of Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated (PSEG) (NYSE:PEG), a diversified energy company (http://www.pseg.com/). Want to know what's new at PSEG? Go to http://www.pseg.com/getnews and sign up to have our press releases and weekly environmental commentaries sent right to your inbox. DATASOURCE: PSE&G CONTACT: Media: Bonnie Sheppard, +1-973-430-7734, For Customers & Others: 1-800-436-7734 Web Site: http://www.pseg.com/

Copyright