NEWARK, N.J., April 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- PSE&G is
reminding customers still struggling to pay winter heating bills
that they have only until May 2 to
apply for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
Those who have already received LIHEAP this winter season may also
be eligible for additional LIHEAP emergency assistance.
"We know there are many families who still are not aware of the
Low Income Heating Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the additional
Emergency LIHEAP assistance that may be available to them," said
Joseph A. Forline, PSE&G's vice
president for customer operations. "We want to make sure every bit
of available assistance reaches every eligible person."
LIHEAP
PSE&G customers who meet the guidelines for LIHEAP may be
eligible to receive an average of $300 toward their utility bill. To receive
assistance, they must pay their heating costs directly, pay their
landlord according to their usage, or have their heating included
in their rent. They must meet income guidelines for a household of
their size and show proof of last month's income. Those who
recently lost their jobs or are working reduced hours may now
qualify for assistance.
To see if your household meets the state income guidelines and
where to apply, visit www.pseg.com/help or call 1-800-510
3102 Monday–Saturday from 8 am to 5
pm. Applications also are available at the PSE&G's
16 walk-in Customer Service Centers listed on your bill.
Remember, applications must be submitted by May 2.
EMERGENCY LIHEAP ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Current LIHEAP recipients who still are having difficulty paying
their winter heating costs may be eligible for up to an additional
$450 applied to their utility bill.
To receive Emergency LIHEAP for electric or gas, a customer must
heat with PSE&G, have an LIHEAP benefit on their PSE&G
heating account, and have a shut-off notice for an overdue bill.
For locations of where to apply, go to www.pseg.com/help or call
1-800-510-3102. When applying, customers should be sure to bring
all pages of their most recent PSE&G bill with them.
Applications must be submitted by May
2.
UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUND (USF)
Customers who apply for LIHEAP automatically are also screened
for the New Jersey Board of Public
Utilities' Universal Service Fund (USF), a program that can make
electric and gas bills more affordable by providing up to
$150 per month toward their PSE&G
bill. This program considers income, the amount of electric and gas
used and any other benefits customers may already be receiving on
their utility bill. The application for USF is the same as that
used for LIHEAP and is accepted year round. To find out where to
apply, visit www.pseg.com/help, call 1-800-510-3102 or visit one of
PSE&G's walk-in centers listing on your utility bill.
Households not eligible for low income programs should visit
www.pseg.com/help for other forms of available assistance. A new
You-Tube video on PSE&G's Web site helps customers learn about
these programs. Visit www.youtube.com/psegvideo
"These and other payment assistance programs are very helpful to
our customers, and we hope all eligible households will take
advantage of them," Forline said. "In addition, there are other
ways PSE&G can help customers manage their bills, including
spreading out payments evenly to make things easier on your budget.
What's important to remember is that if you find you're struggling
with your bills, always give us call right away. It's always better
to take care of these issues as early as possible. We will work
with you as best we can."
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
(www.pseg.com).
Want to know what's new at PSEG? Go to
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CONTACT FOR CUSTOMERS
800 436-7734
SOURCE Public Service Electric & Gas Company (PSE&G)