How to get help paying your PSE&G bill in New Jersey
This guide explains the ways PSE&G customers in New Jersey can get help with a gas or electric bill they cannot afford. It covers what each program gives you, who can qualify, and how to apply. Some programs lower your monthly bill, some pay down the balance you already owe, and some help keep your service from being shut off. Most are free to apply for, and in many cases you can use more than one at the same time. If you are behind now, apply as early as you can, because some of this help is limited and runs out once the year's funding is used.
- SCAM WARNING: Unfortunately, scams and fraud are all too common when it comes to utility assistance. Robo calls, people asking for account information, fake LIHEAP applications and other targeted scams have been reported. See our tips on avoiding scams, with focus on PSE&G, below.
LIHEAP and Universal Service Fund grants for PSE&G customers
For households with lower incomes, this is the largest source of help. New Jersey's LIHEAP program, the Home Energy Assistance Program, applies a credit directly to your PSE&G account to help pay your heating costs. If a member of your household has a medical need for air conditioning, it can also help with summer cooling.
The same application enrolls you in the Universal Service Fund (USF), which lowers your gas and electric bill by a set amount every month for a year. You apply through the state rather than through PSE&G, and one application covers both programs. Renters can qualify even when heat is included in the rent. You can read the full details, including who qualifies and how to apply, in our guide to New Jersey LIHEAP and weatherization. If you need help completing the application, a local New Jersey community action agency will do it with you at no charge.
Clearing a past-due balance with the Fresh Start program
If you are new to the Universal Service Fund and you already owe money to PSE&G, the Fresh Start program can forgive that past-due balance. You keep the forgiveness by paying your current bill in full and on time for twelve months. A portion of the old balance is cleared each month you pay on time, and after a year the rest is gone. There is no separate application; when you apply for USF, PSE&G checks whether you qualify.
Help for households that do not qualify for LIHEAP
If your income is slightly too high for LIHEAP, or you have already used your LIHEAP grant for the year, two other programs may be able to help.
- PAGE, the Payment Assistance for Gas and Electric program, is a state grant for low- and moderate-income households that have fallen behind. You generally need a past-due balance, and you apply for LIHEAP and USF first; PAGE can then help cover part of what remains. To apply, visit https://www.nj.gov/bpu/assistance/programs/ or call 1-732-982-8710.
- NJ SHARES is a separate nonprofit fund for households facing a sudden hardship, such as a job loss or a serious illness, who do not qualify for the other programs but have been making an effort to pay. A NJ SHARES grant goes toward your past-due balance to keep your service connected, and it can also help with phone, internet, and water bills. You can reach NJ SHARES at 1-866-657-4273 or see the NHPB NJ SHARES guide.
Payment plans that give you more time to pay PSE&G
You do not need to qualify for a low-income program to get more time. If you are behind, ask PSE&G for a Deferred Payment Arrangement. This keeps your service on and lets you pay down your past-due balance gradually, added in small amounts on top of your regular monthly bill, so you are not asked to pay everything at once.
If your bills are hard to plan for because they rise sharply in winter or summer, ask about the Equal Payment Plan. PSE&G totals about a year of your usage and divides it into equal monthly payments, so your bill is the same predictable amount each month. The Equal Payment Plan is free, though your account must be current to start it. You can set up either option at pseg.com/help or by calling 1-800-357-2262.
Free programs that permanently lower your PSE&G bill
Lowering the bill itself is often worth more than paying a single month. Through Comfort Partners and PSE&G's home weatherization program for income-qualified customers, the utility sends specialists to your home at no cost to seal drafts, add insulation, install efficient lighting, and repair or tune up heating equipment. These improvements are permanent, so they keep lowering your bills over time. There can be a waiting list, so it is worth applying early. You can start at pseg.com/help or ask about it when you call.
Additional help for seniors and people with disabilities
If you are 65 or older, or an adult who receives Social Security disability benefits, New Jersey's Lifeline program adds a yearly credit to your electric or gas bill. It is separate from the programs above, and you can receive it in addition to other help. Call 1-800-792-9745 to apply or to check whether you qualify. Older residents can find more programs on our page about assistance for seniors in New Jersey.
Protection from winter shut-offs
New Jersey law prevents gas and electric service from being shut off during the coldest months for customers enrolled in certain programs, including the Universal Service Fund, Lifeline, SSI, and TANF. There is also protection for anyone who cannot pay because of circumstances beyond their control, such as job loss or illness. If you are worried about losing your service this winter, call 1-800-624-0241 to ask whether you are protected.
Avoiding utility assistance scams
Be careful with anyone who contacts you claiming you overpaid PSE&G or are owed an energy-assistance refund. A common scam asks for your online banking password so the caller can deposit the refund, or sends you a check and tells you to return part of it. Real programs do not work this way.
LIHEAP, USF, PAGE, and PSE&G all apply any credit directly to your account, no one needs your banking password to give you money, and no legitimate program sends you a check and then asks you to send money back. If a call seems suspicious, hang up and call PSE&G using the number printed on your bill. Remember too that applying for these programs is always free, so anyone who asks for a fee to process or guarantee your application is running a scam.
How to apply for help with your PSE&G bill
For PSE&G's own payment plans or questions about your account, call 1-800-357-2262 or visit https://nj.pseg.com/saveenergyandmoney/gethelppayingyourbill. To apply for LIHEAP and the Universal Service Fund, and to be screened for the other programs, apply online at nj.gov/dca/dcaid, call the state energy assistance hotline at 1-800-510-3102, or dial 2-1-1 to find a local agency that will help you apply for free. Applying as early in the season as possible gives you the best chance of receiving help before the funds are used up.
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