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The original item was published from 2/8/2022 10:47:18 AM to 3/14/2022 12:25:31 PM.

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Posted on: February 8, 2022

[ARCHIVED] PSE&G Offers Utility Payment Assistance

pseg

Please note: This is a public service announcement to our residents directly from PSE&G. 

Today, twice as many customers are seriously behind on their bills as there were before the pandemic.  The moratorium provided much needed support for those who have suffered financial hardship.  New Jersey’s grace period for utility shutoffs ended on January 1, 2022.  

That’s 275,000 residential customers at risk for having their utility service disconnected.  

After March 15, PSE&G can disconnect service to customers who have:

  • not contacted PSE&G to make a payment arrangement
  • not applied for State payment assistance 

The time to act is now.

Utility Payment Solutions: 

To protect utility service from being disconnected, customers must contact PSE&G before March 15, 2022. 

Contact PSE&G to set up a Deferred Payment Arrangement (DPA). 

This special arrangement is available to all customers, regardless of past payment history, with no money down.   

  • Visit pseg.com/myaccount
  • Call 800-357-2262. When asked, “What would you like help with today?” just say, “Payment arrangement.”  
  • A DPA allows a customer to pay their regular monthly bill, plus an amount towards the past due balance, over an agreed upon period of time.  211
  • The customer’s account will be protected from the day they create the DPA and remain protected as long as they make their monthly payments.
  • The customer will receive a confirmation letter from PSE&G documenting the terms of the arrangement. 

Apply for utility assistance programs as soon as possible and notify PSE&G that customer has applied for assistance.  Thanks to increased income limits, more people are now eligible for payment assistance. 

Apply for Utility Payment Assistance Programs

  • Visit: nj211.org/utility-assistance-programs
  • Call 2-1-1
  • Customer must notify PSE&G that they have applied for assistance.  Provide the name of the program, and place the customer applied or confirmation number.
  • Their account will be protected from disconnection for up to 90 days, however it is the customer’s responsibility to ensure the application is processed.

To recertify or check application status: 

Utility Assistance Programs:

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Universal Service Fund (USF), PAGE, NJ SHARES, Lifeline, Winter Termination Program, NJ Comfort Partners, Weatherization Assistance Program 

It’s important to know:

  • Customers must apply through the State. 
  • PSE&G does not manage the application process for these assistance programs and cannot check the application status.  
  • There are dozens of social service agencies available to assist customers with finding resources and the application process.  Find your county’s social service agency. 
  • PSE&G has social service agency representatives at six customer service centers.  

PSE&G Community Outreach: 

Given the financial difficulties the pandemic has caused, PSE&G wants to help customers catch up on their overdue bills. Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have substantially increased our community outreach.

Public Service Announcement – Multi-Media Campaign 

We have created a dedicated webpage (www.pseg.com/HelpNow) with a video that explains each program, in English and Spanish. The webpage also includes a comprehensive list of payment. Screen Shot 2022-02-08 at 10.45.33 AM assistance programs and pandemic relief, with links to those programs.

PSE&G has launched a multimedia, public service campaign to raise awareness of the resources available to help customers afford their bills.  We’ve invested in social media campaigns and public service announcements on TV and radio. 

State, County, Local Partnerships

PSE&G is partnering with NJ’s Department of Community Affairs, Board of Public Utilities and several nonprofits to share information and offer webinars to connect our customers to resources

PSE&G is also collaborating with multiple social service agencies throughout the state to bring community advocates into six of our customer service centers.  These customer advocates will personally help customers access resources to help pay their utility bills.  

Grassroots Community Outreach 

We’re exemplifying the “Public Service” in Public Service Electric & Gas – diving deep into local communities, sharing resources, answering questions and offering support as we all recover from the economic impact of this pandemic.  

  • Pandemic relief events
  • Street teams
  • Food pantries
  • Salvation Army 
  • Faith-based organizations   

PSE&G customer service representatives have personally reached out to individual customers to discuss each customer’s situation and potential options. 

Shutoffs Are Always a Last Resort 

At PSE&G, we never want to shut off any customer’s utility service because of the inability to pay. We want to partner with customers to keep them connected and get them back on track, together.

Primary Calls to Action:

  1. Enroll in a PSE&G Deferred Payment Arrangement (DPA): Visit pseg.com/myaccount; or call 800-357-2262.  When asked, “What would you like help with today?” just say, “Payment arrangement.”
  2. Apply for state energy payment assistance: Visit nj211.org (https://www.nj211.org/utility-assistance-programs) or dial 2-1-1

Need help, not sure where to start or want to share information with others? 

  1. Visit: pseg.com/HelpNow, or call PSE&G Customer Care: 800-357-2262
  2. Find an affiliate agencythat helps people apply for utility relief programs in your county:
    1. Visit pseg.com/HelpNow for customer service centers with customer advocates from affiliate agencies 
    2. Visit nj211.org (https://www.nj211.org/utility-assistance-programs) or dial 2-1-1

 

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