The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) and the city of Atlantic City will host the Atlantic County Utility Assistance Day on Wednesday, February 21 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event, which is free and open to the public, will be held at the All Wars Memorial Building in Atlantic City. Free parking is available.
This event aims to provide an opportunity for Atlantic County residents to learn about New Jersey’s utility assistance programs, meet with local application agencies, and talk to their utility companies. Christine Guhl-Sadovy, President of the NJBPU, emphasized the importance of seeking help early: “If you are struggling or falling behind on your payments, we are here to help. New Jersey offers a wide range of assistance programs to help residents pay their utility bills. Don’t wait until you are faced with a service disruption before getting help.”
Several organizations will be present to assist customers in applying for utility grant programs including Ocean Inc., Community Affairs and Resource Center, Native American Advancement Corporation, NJ SHARES, Atlantic City Health and Human Services Department, and the NJ Department of Human Service’s Division of Aging Services. Representatives from Atlantic City Electric Company, South Jersey Gas Company, and NJBPU’s Division of Customer Assistance and Office of Clean Energy will also attend.
Mayor Marty Small Sr. encouraged residents in need to participate: “I strongly encourage all Atlantic City residents in need of assistance paying their utility bills, especially during these winter months, to take advantage of this opportunity.” He expressed gratitude for the partnership with NJBPU and other organizations.
During winter months when heating bills are high, NJBPU urges customers in danger of disconnection to contact their utility company and enroll in the Winter Termination Program (WTP). Under WTP, certain gas, electric, water and wastewater customers are protected from shut-off from November 15 - March 15 if they participate in specific programs or face circumstances beyond their control such as lost income or unemployment.
Department of Community Affairs Acting Commissioner Jacquelyn A. Suárez highlighted available support: “DCA is ready to assist individuals and families who may face challenges with paying their utility bills.” She noted that moderate-income families might also be eligible for assistance through programs like the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program offered by DCA.
Additionally, customers enrolled in the USF program will be automatically screened for the Fresh Start program which allows eligible USF customers an opportunity to have overdue balances forgiven by paying current monthly bills on time.
Human Services Commissioner Sarah Adelman underscored the significance of this event: “This is a wonderful opportunity for Atlantic County residents to learn about the utility assistance programs available and how to apply.”
Residents attending should bring necessary documentation including income statements for all adult household members from within the past eight weeks or zero income statement; copies of social security cards or residency status; proof of address; and all pages of electric or heating bills.
For those unable to attend the event but seeking information on how to apply for utility assistance programs can call 2-1-1 or visit online resources provided by NJBPU.
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) is responsible for ensuring safe and adequate utility services at reasonable rates for New Jersey customers across various sectors including natural gas, electricity, water, wastewater telecommunications and cable television.
