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Elizabethtown Gas Encourages Customers to Take Full Advantage of Available Energy Assistance Programs

UNION, NJ, March 15, 2024 – Elizabethtown Gas encourages its customers to continue taking full advantage of available energy assistance programs beyond the expiration of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities’ Winter Termination Program, effective today, March 15, 2024. Elizabethtown Gas’ Energy Assistance team is available to help customers determine if they are eligible for any of these services and identify which program is suitable for each household. Below is a summary of programs:

• The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provides federally funded energy assistance to help low- to moderate-income families meet their energy needs. LIHEAP also offers an added emergency crisis benefit component, offering eligible applicants an additional benefit to maintain or restore service. LIHEAP accepts applications from October 1 through June 30 each year and accepts applications for its ancillary emergency grant from March 16 through June 30 each year. For more information on the application process or to apply online, visit the Department of Community Affairs’ website at www.nj.gov/dca.
• The Universal Service Fund (USF) state program helps make natural gas and electric bills more affordable for low-income households. Customers who apply for LIHEAP automatically submit for consideration of the USF grant. Customers can receive between $5 - $180 per month toward their utility bill. In addition, customers approved for the USF program through September 30, 2024, will be automatically screened for the Fresh Start Program if arrears are greater than $60. USF accepts applications year-round.
• The Payment Assistance for Gas and Electric (PAGE) is a state-funded utility assistance program that helps low- to moderate-income families in New Jersey pay their utility bills. The PAGE grant is administered by NJ SHARES and is funded by the Board of Public Utilities (BPU). It is a financial assistance program designed to help households across the state of New Jersey who are experiencing economic hardship and struggling to pay their electric and natural gas bills. New Jersey residents who rent or own a home and are facing a crisis situation that includes a documented notice of overdue payment for gas or electric service may qualify.
• The NJ SHARES program provides a one-time grant to moderate or fixed-income households experiencing a financial crisis that do not qualify for federal and state assistance programs due to the household’s income. Grants can be up to $700 for customers with natural gas as a heating source and must result in a continuance and/or restoration of service.
• The NJ SHARES SMART program provides a one-time grant to moderate or fixed-income households experiencing a financial crisis that do not qualify for federal and state assistance programs due to the household’s income or have received benefits from state or federal utility assistance programs and still need additional assistance. Grants can be up to $500 for customers with natural gas as a heating source and must result in a continuance and/or restoration of service.
• NJ Comfort Partners is a free energy efficiency and education program for qualified low-income customers offered through the New Jersey Clean Energy Program. The program helps customers save energy and money while making their homes more energy efficient. Eligible customers will receive all energy-saving education services free of charge. The program also includes the installation of cost-effective energy efficiency measures in the home.

Elizabethtown Gas encourages customers to apply to the above programs prior to the expiration of their enhanced benefits, effective September 30, 2024. Customers may apply for these programs online, through mail or in person. For more information on how or where to apply, visit elizabethtowngas.com, the Board of Public Utilities’ official https://www.nj.gov/bpu/ or NJsharesgreen.org.

For additional details on these programs, including eligibility requirements and help applying to the above programs, customers can contact the Elizabethtown Gas Energy Assistance team at ElizabethtownGasPaymentAssistance@sjindustries.com. Customers can also get up-to-date information on community outreach events via Twitter @etowngas and on Facebook at Elizabethtown Gas.

For more information about SJI and its subsidiaries, please visit sjindustries.com.