Jersey Central Power & Light is urging customers to explore year-round energy bill assistance programs following seasonal spikes in usage and the recent end of New Jersey’s Winter Termination Program.
The utility, a FirstEnergy Corp. electric company, said customers experiencing difficulty paying their electric bills can seek help through several state and community programs designed to reduce monthly costs, address past-due balances and prevent service interruptions.
“When temperatures swing to extremes like they did this winter, many customers use more energy to heat or cool their homes, which can lead to higher electric bills,” Doug Mokoid, president of FirstEnergy New Jersey, said in a statement.
“No one should feel stressed about staying comfortable and safe at home. If you’re concerned about paying your electric bill, please reach out — our dedicated team is here to help you find options and get back on track.”
Among the programs highlighted is the Universal Service Fund, a year-round benefit that provides monthly bill credits to eligible households. JCP&L also noted the USF Fresh Start Program, which may eliminate past-due balances for qualified customers.
According to the utility, to qualify for USF a household must have a gross income at or below 60% of the state median income level and pay more than 2% of its annual income for electricity if it does not have electric heat, or more than 4% if it uses electric heat.
Customers can visit firstenergycorp.com/USF to schedule an appointment for help completing and submitting an application.
JCP&L also announced it will host a free energy assistance event on April 22 in Ocean County to provide in-person application support. The event is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Charles A. Smith Community Center, 15 E. Lacey Road in Forked River.
Attendees will be able to get help applying for USF and learn about additional assistance options, with community partners available to answer questions, the company said.
Other programs referenced by JCP&L include the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), the New Jersey SHARES program, Payment Assistance for Gas & Electric (PAGE), the 2-1-1 helpline, Lifeline, and the Comfort Partners Program, which offers eligible customers no-cost in-home energy evaluations and energy-saving home improvements.
More information on assistance and payment programs is available at firstenergycorp.com/billassist.
