Board of Public Utilities encourages residents to seek utility bill assistance worth up to $200 a month

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities is urging eligible households to apply for help with utility bills through the state’s Universal Service Fund as the new energy assistance application period opens.

Administered by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, the Universal Service Fund is designed to help qualifying low- and moderate-income households keep monthly electric and natural gas costs affordable.

NJBPU President Ben Hertz-Shargel. - courtesy NJ.gov

“Affordability is at the center of everything we’re doing at the Board, and that means making sure New Jersey families can access the aid they need to manage their utility bills,” NJBPU President Ben Hertz-Shargel said.

“These expanded benefits put more money back into household budgets, and our work with utilities and community partners will help connect more eligible residents with aid. We want every New Jerseyan who qualifies for these programs to know that help is available and that applying is easier than they may think.”

The program now offers minimum monthly bill credits of $20 for gas and $20 for electric, up from the previous $5 minimum, and it provides a maximum monthly credit of $200 for gas and electric combined, an increase from $180. The board approved those benefit increases last year, and the changes continue to provide meaningful relief for families facing high energy costs.

In addition, the board directed the state’s seven gas and electric utilities to help first-time applicants with enrollment, expanding access across New Jersey.

Enrollment in the Universal Service Fund also opens the door to other assistance, including the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program and the USF-Fresh Start energy debt forgiveness program. Participation also comes with protections against utility shutoffs during the winter and summer months.

Households can use one application for both Universal Service Fund and federal LIHEAP benefits through the state portal. Customers may receive benefits from both programs at the same time.

While the Universal Service Fund provides recurring monthly credits that help eligible households pay for natural gas and electric service, LIHEAP offers lump-sum assistance for home heating costs, including gas, electric, deliverable fuels and energy costs included in rent. LIHEAP also covers medically necessary cooling expenses, emergency aid for households facing disconnection, and heating repair and replacement.

Income limits and eligibility details are available online. Residents can also call 1-800-510-3102 for information about qualification rules, available aid, local in-person application help and application status updates.

The LIHEAP application window runs through the end of June, and applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis while funding remains available. Eligible residents are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.