Rising electricity rates have hit consumers’ wallets since early 2022, but that outlook could worsen come summer, when bills double or even triple in homes with multiple air conditioning units.
Both New York and New Jersey have relief programs that can not only help reduce energy bill debt. Consumers can also get a rebate on the purchase of air conditioning units or even get one for free.
Each state administers the federal funds for these programs according to their guidelines. Here’s how to take advantage of the aid if you qualify.
NEW JERSEY
- NEW JERSEY CLEAN ENERGY PROGRAM, REFUNDS UP TO $4,000 AND FINANCING UP TO $15,000
The New Jersey Clean Energy Program (NJCEP) offers financial assistance for the purchase and installation of high-efficiency central air conditioning systems, gas furnaces, boilers, and water heaters.
The program promotes the purchase of high-efficiency natural gas residential heating systems and/or natural gas water heaters. It also incentivizes the purchase of electric central air conditioners or energy efficient heat pumps. COLAdvantage rebates are available with the purchase and installation of qualifying high-efficiency electrical equipment.
A resident can get rebates up to $4,000 and financing up to $15,000. The program is available for both business and residential housing.
Visit https://www.njcleanenergy.com/ for more details.
- LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LIHEAP)
It is designed to help low-income families and individuals cover medically necessary home cooling costs. This year, the application period ends June 30.
To qualify for assistance, the applicant’s household must be responsible for the home’s cooling costs, either directly or included in the rent; and have a gross income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level.
The medically necessary cooling assistance benefit amount will be $200, which will be issued as a direct credit to an active electric account. Otherwise, it will be issued as a single party check to the applicant.
For more information about LIHEAP or to locate the nearest application agency, call 1-800-510-3102 or visit www.energyassistance.nj.gov.
- UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUND (USF)
The USF was created by the NJ Board of Public Utilities to help make natural gas and electric bills more affordable for low-income customers. Applications for this program are accepted throughout the year.
The LIHEAP application is also an application for USF. Apply for two benefit programs at the same time. Households that qualify for USF will receive a monthly credit benefit for their gas and electric bills.
To qualify for assistance, a household’s gross income must be at or below 400% of the Federal Poverty Level and pay more than 2% of their annual income for electricity, or more than 2% for natural gas.
Benefits range from $5 to $180 per month. Payments are credited monthly to utility accounts. Money is never sent to customers. L
USF benefits are only available to customers of the seven regulated electric (energy) companies in New Jersey, which are: New Jersey Natural Gas Company; Elizabethtown Gas Company; South Jersey Gas Company; Electricity and gas public service company; Rockland Electric Company; Jersey Central Power & Light and Atlantic City Electric Company.
Because the same application is used for LIHEAP and USF, the process and required documentation are the same. For more information call 866-240-1347.
If you have a balance of $60 or more on your energy bill as a USF customer, you may qualify for additional benefits under the New Jersey Fresh Start Program, which is a partnership between the customer and USF to forgive past due balances and improve service performance. payment.
Participants must pay the current bill supplemented by USF on time and in full each month and after 12 months of full and on-time payments, the past due balance from the previous USF program will be cleared.
- GAS AND ELECTRICITY PAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (PAGE)
If you don’t qualify for LIHEAP, there are other utility assistance programs you may qualify for.
PAGE, administered through the Affordable Housing Alliance, is intended to provide assistance to low- and moderate-income New Jerseyans who are struggling to pay their electric and natural gas bills.
Customers of JCP&L, PSE&G, Rockland Electric, Atlantic City Electric, NJNG, Elizabeth Gas, South Jersey Gas or a third-party provider billing through one of these companies qualify
People who have bills past due for 45 days or more, and/or have received an interruption notice, and/or the service has already been disconnected, and with a minimum balance of $100 in the account qualify.
For more information call 732-982-8710 or visit website.
The Lifeline utility assistance program that is designed to help low-income individuals who are age 65 or older or who receive Social Security Disability or Supplemental Security Income and have an annual income of less than $38,769 if single or less than $45,270 if married.
This includes utility customers as well as tenants whose utility bills are included in their rent. Lifeline benefits are provided only to electricity and natural gas consumers. For more information about Lifeline, visit the NJ Department of Human Services website or call 800-792-9745.
Unlike the Garden State, which has a wide range of programs that offer financial assistance or rebates, New York is limited to offering a free air conditioning unit as part of the HEAP program.
New York’s HEAP Cooling Assistance (CAC) benefit opened May 2, but funding is limited.
Applications will be accepted at local departments of social services beginning Monday, May 2 and running through August 31, or until funds are exhausted. Assistance is provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
New York City residents can download an application and get information about the program here.
The state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, the agency that administers HEAP, expanded the criteria to help more effectively by including all income-qualified New Yorkers, not just those with a medical condition.
Now, qualified applicants must meet HEAP criteria and income thresholds, which vary by household size. For example, a family of four may have a maximum gross monthly income of $5,249 or an annual gross income of $62,983. Before this year, the HEAP component was only available to income households with a person who had a documented medical condition exacerbated by extreme heat.
You can also call 311 in New York City or 212-331-3126 in the rest of the state.
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