Utility shut-off moratorium ends July 1 in NJ. Apply for assistance by June 30 – NorthJersey.com

As New Jersey’s moratorium on utility shut-offs winds down, a deadline for an energy assistance program that could help reduce a glut of overdue bills looms.

Officials with the Passaic County’s Division of Weatherization and Home Energy, the Greater Bergen Community Action and other area organizations are urging residents to apply by the June 30 deadline for the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program for 2021.

The program offers eligible households a one-time benefit to offset heating costs with or without a shut-off notice from a utility company, said Giuseppina Sardina, who helps manage the home energy programs in Passaic County.

The single application available through the county can also determine eligibility for emergency assistance on utilities of up to $700, a $200 credit toward household air conditioning costs and access to the state’s Universal Service Fund, Sardina said.

The help could be huge, advocates say, as state records show that overdue utility bills have been piling up amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

For PSE&>, the amount owed by residential customers on their gas or electric bills went from $175 million to $315 million between April 2020 and April 2021, state records show. The amount owed by those 180 days or more in arrears tripled to $165 million. Meanwhile, the company’s electric bills have increased. They now average $123.44, up from $119.79 in 2020, state records show.

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Rosa Pagnillo-Lopez, a payment assistance specialist with the utility, said the pandemic has left customers struggling.

“Twice as many customers are seriously behind on their bills than they were before the pandemic,” she said.

Customers’ utilities remain on due to a moratorium on gas, electric and water utility shut-offs issued by Gov. Phil Murphy in spring 2020 to cope with record unemployment amid the pandemic. The moratorium ends July 1. However, a six-month grace period will follow to allow customers to enroll in payment assistance plans.

Pagnillo-Lopez said the goal is to partner with customers, rather than plan a series of shut-offs. Changes due to the pandemic allow customers in arrears to benefit from multiple assistance programs, including bill assistance, through Payment Assistance for Gas & Electric, New Jersey SHARES and the Lifeline programs, she added.

Like many government-administered financial assistance programs, the federal energy assistance program and the state’s Universal Service Fund have income eligibility requirements. Monthly gross incomes are capped for households of four at $4,367, and $4,039 for the state fund.

The latter offers low-income residents who spend an inordinate amount of their gross income on utilities credits or checks of up to $1,800 a year to reduce costs. It also offers the possibility of forgiveness for preexisting debts for first-time participants who make full, on-time payments for 12 months though its Fresh Start program, state records show.

In each of the past three years, the fund has distributed an average of roughly $124 million, records show. It assists about 150,000 households per year.

This year, the state budget allocated $15 million of Coronavirus Relief Fund dollars to assist both programs. The state Department of Community Affairs is also expected to distribute more than $25 million in federal stimulus funds through the federal energy assistance program, records show.

The June 30 deadline is for the Oct. 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021, application period. Applications for the 2022 program open Sept. 1. They can be submitted online and take about 30 days to process, Sardina said.

To reduce utility costs going forward, Passaic County and Greater Bergen Community Action offer residents assistance with weatherization and energy efficiency upgrades. Both programs provide in-home assessments and help with repairing or replacing windows, insulation, air filters, appliances and more.

Tenants can qualify even if not all the households in the building qualify, said Kevin Batacchi, director of the Passaic County division. However, they would need landlord permission.

The gross annual income limit is $53,000 for a family of four. Still, there are overriding qualifiers. If a member of the household receives food stamps, temporary assistance for needy families, adoption subsidies or supplemental security income, qualification may be automatic, Batacchi said.

Available resources

• Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program: It helps income-eligible residents with their heating and cooling bills. It can protect customers from shut-off for non-payment or provide help with heating bills. To apply, call 1-800-510-3102 or go online to use the DCAid screening tool. Grant applications will be accepted only through June 30, 2021.
• Universal Service Fund: It offers some utility customers a monthly bill credit based on household income and energy burden. Its Fresh Start program offers account debt forgiveness for first-time applicants. To apply, call 211 or go online to use the DCAid screening tool.
• Lifeline: It provides funding for gas and electric bills for qualifying disabled persons and senior citizens. Applications, which must be made annually, can be made by 800-792-9745 or visiting the Lifeline website.
• Payment Assistance for Gas & Electric. PAGE helps low- to moderate-income customers struggling to pay their electric and natural gas bills. It provides grants to those who are over the income levels for LIHEAP as well as to those who have already applied for LIHEAP but need additional help. To apply, call 732-982-8710 or go online to NJPowerOn.org.
• New Jersey SHARES: The nonprofit assists income-eligible customers, who do not qualify for other assistance programs and have a history of paying their utility bills, with a one-time grant of up to $700. Visit njsharesgreen.org or call 866-657-4273.
• 2-1-1 Helpline: The nationwide resource helps to identify locally available programs that may assist customers with utility bills or other needs. Dial 211, text your ZIP code to 898211, or visit the 211 website.
• Gift of Warmth. This program, offered to New Jersey Natural Gas customers, provides a one-time grant of up to $500 to help households experiencing temporary or financial hardship reconnect or continue their natural gas service. Call 800-221-0051 and say “energy assistance” at the prompt or start an application online.

USA TODAY Network New Jersey Staff Writer David P. Willis contributed to this article.

David Zimmer is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Original Source: https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/new-jersey/2021/06/17/nj-utility-shut-off-moratorium-july-1-how-to-apply/7720639002/