Those Behind on Their Winter Heating Bills Advised to Act Now
16 March 2007 - 3:02AM
PR Newswire (US)
Protection period ends today, LIHEAP application extend through
April 30 NEWARK, N.J., March 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- PSE&G
is advising those who have fallen behind on their winter heating
bills to act now to avoid having their electric/gas service shut
off. There are a number of resources available to help consumers
manage and pay their energy bills, but they must take the steps
necessary to get the support they need. For some, pursuing payment
assistance will be critical. March 15th marks the end of the Winter
Termination Program, which protected some residential electric and
gas customers from having their service disconnected for nonpayment
during the cold winter months. Now that the deadline has passed,
New Jersey utilities can interrupt service for non-payment.
PSE&G customers who cannot afford to pay the full amount they
owe can visit one of the utility's 16 customer service centers or
call 1-800-357-2262 to arrange a payment plan. It is important to
note though that if the agreement is not kept and utility service
is disconnected, the customer can be required to pay the full
delinquent amount plus a reconnection charge - before service is
restored. "We know that there were some protected customers who
didn't follow our advice to make payments toward their winter
bills. Those are the people who worry me the most, because they
still owe for the service they used, and now they are in an even
tougher spot," said Vic Viscomi, who leads the utility's
collections activities. "I strongly encourage those who have fallen
behind to make a good faith effort to pay. That is the first step,
and it's an important one." The application deadline for LIHEAP, a
federally funded program that helps income eligible customers
offset the cost of their winter heating bills, has been extended to
April 30th. PSE&G is urging all eligible customers to apply for
assistance. "Enrolling in LIHEAP can make a real difference for
families struggling to make ends meet," said Eileen Leahey,
PSE&G's manager of payment assistance. "This additional time
will allow more people to take advantage of the help that's
available." Completed LIHEAP applications may also qualify and
automatically enroll residents in NJ's Universal Service Fund
(USF), a year-long state-administered payment assistance program
that considers both income and energy consumption in determining
eligibility. Applications are available in all of PSE&G's 16
customer service centers. Locations and hours are listed in
customer's bills. For those who have already benefited from LIHEAP
this heating season, but who are still struggling to pay their
bills, additional help may be available. To find out where to apply
for what is known as Emergency LIHEAP, call 1-800- 510-3102.
Applicants must meet income eligibility requirements according to
the guidelines listed in attached chart. LIHEAP & USF Maximum
Monthly Gross Income Levels for the Period of 10/1/06 to 9/30/07
Maximum Gross Maximum Gross Household Size Monthly Income Household
Size Monthly Income 1 $1,430 7 $4,405 2 $1,925 8 $4,900 3 $2,421 9
$5,396 4 $2,917 10 $5,892 5 $3,413 11 $6,388 6 $3,909 12 $6,703
Note: To determine eligibility for household sizes greater than 12,
add $135 for each additional member. Detailed information in both
English and Spanish on how and where to apply for LIHEAP and USF,
can be found by calling 1-800-510-3102 or visiting
http://www.pseg.com/liheap. For more information in both English
and Spanish on resources available to help manage PSE&G bills,
visit the PSE&G's Payment Assistance Outreach website at
http://www.pseg.com/billpaymentassistance. 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 National Achievement 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/). DATASOURCE: PSE&G
CONTACT: Jenn Kramer of PSE&G, +1-973-430-7734 Web site:
http://www.pseg.com/
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