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Help Paying Your Bill
There may be a time when you just can't seem to make ends meet. An illness, injury, loss of job...anything can cause you to fall behind. If you find yourself in this situation with your electric bill, call us, we may be able to help.
Payment Options - Levelized Billing and Arrangements
Levelized billing helps even out your monthly payments by using a 12 month rolling average of your actual consumption. This is especially helpful for people with electric heat or who use air conditioning. You have to be current in your payments to join this program. Click here for complete details.
Another solution is called an "arrangement". You agree to pay 30% of the outstanding account balance and then the remainder is paid according to the payment schedule you work out with our Billing Department. You can make only one deferred payment arrangement per twelve (12) month period. Payments must be made in the office on or before the due date. Additionally, the arrangement does NOT include any forthcoming bills which must be paid by their due date.
Government Assistance Programs
If You Live in New Jersey...
Energy assistance programs are available from a number of State and Federal governmental agencies. Please keep in mind that certain programs you may hear about are not open to everyone in the State of New Jersey. Included in this category:
- Universal Service Fund (USF) Program - For Elizabethtown Gas and JCP&L customers only.
- New Jersey SHARES
Social Services in New Jersey may be aware of additional resources and programs. In Sussex County, call them at 973-383-3600.
The main program available for energy assistance is the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program or LIHEAP. You may also hear it referred to as HEAP and HEA. Click here to get to the main page of NJ Department of Community Resources where you can learn more about this and other NJ assistance programs..
For a downloadable application, click here. The document you obtain includes the Application, Instructions and Required Documentation. This requires Adobe Reader. If you do not have it, click here for a free download.
Important Notes:
- You are subject to being disconnected even during the Winter Moratorium unless you qualify as noted in the Disconnection Policies below.
- You must reapply every year.
- You must notify us that you have been accepted in the program, they do not inform us directly.
- Required documentation is extensive and applications are not accepted without all the items. Be sure you have everything before going to apply.
Disconnection Policies for New Jersey
Date-based Yes
Protection Dates 11/15 - 3/15
Temperature-based No
Seasonal Policy Ban on disconnection for customers receiving Lifeline, LIHEAP, TANF, FAFDC, SSI, PAAD or GA or households unable to pay overdue amounts because of unemployment, medical expenses, or recent death of spouse. Customers eligible for the Winter Termination Protection Program are placed on a budget plan and cannot be disconnected as long as they make good faith payments of at least 25% plus set up and adhere to a payment arrangement.
If You Live in New York...
Again, there are programs from both State and Federal agencies. As with New Jersey, not all programs you hear about will be available. In particular, The Neighborhood Program is only available to Orange and Rockland / Con Edison customers.
The main program available for energy assistance is the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program or LIHEAP. You may also hear it referred to as HEAP and HEA. Click here for detailed information on this and other available programs.
For a downloadable application, click here This requires Adobe Reader. If you do not have it, click here for a free download.
Important Notes:
- You are subject to being disconnected even during the Winter Moratorium unless you qualify as noted in the Disconnection Policies below.
- You must reapply every year.
- You must notify us that you have been accepted in the program, they do not inform us directly.
- Required documentation is extensive and applications are not accepted without all the items. Be sure you have everything before going to apply. Call the local office to be sure you know what they require.
Disconnection Policies for New York
Date-based Yes
Protection Dates Two-week period encompassing Christmas and New Years
Temperature-based No
Seasonal Policy 15 day shut-off protection
Other Prohibits disconnection if household has life support system; 30 day
delay for certified medical condition, certificates may be renewed for
30 days or 90 days if a chronic condition exists. Prohibits disconnection if customer is blind, disabled, or 62 years or older and the remaining household members are 62 years or older, 18 years or under, or blind or disabled unless the utility contacts the household 72 hours prior to termination of service for the purpose of devising a pay plan. If a pay
plan cannot be implemented the utility must delay termination for 15
days and request that social services assist in devising a plan.
Deferred Payments Utilities must offer payment plan suited to customer's financial situation. Good faith payments must be made according to the plan.
