PSE&G Urges Eligible Customers to Apply for Heating Assistance Programs

November 9, 2009 2:49 PM EST

NEWARK, N.J., Nov. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- PSE&G is urging its customers to see if they are eligible for help to pay their winter heating bills. Those who recently lost their jobs, or are now working fewer hours because of the economic downturn, may now qualify for assistance programs.

The federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) has allocated $177 million to New Jersey to help low income households pay their winter heating bills. Individuals and families may now apply; applications will be accepted until April 30, 2010. Those who received LIHEAP benefits last year are urged to complete the recertification application to ensure they receive benefits this year as well.

During this period of major economic uncertainty, we expect that many more households will be able to participate in the program for the first time.

"LIHEAP benefits are based on last month's income, so people who did not qualify for the program previously might now be able to take advantage of these essential benefits," said Joseph A. Forline, PSE&G vice president for customer operations. "We are partnering with state government and community based organizations in an extensive effort to ensure that much needed assistance reaches every person eligible to receive it."

New Jersey's LIHEAP program ranks eighth in the nation in terms of dollars available to help at-risk utility customers. LIHEAP will once again be fully funded, allowing the income eligibility levels to stay at 225% of the federal poverty level. That means a family of four with a monthly income at or below $4,135 may be eligible.

Refer to the chart below for income eligibility.

                     LIHEAP INCOME GUIDELINES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2010

                         Monthly Gross                      Monthly Gross
      Household Size       Income        Household Size        Income

             1             $2,031              7               $6,239
             2             $2,732              8               $6,940
             3             $3,434              9               $7,641
             4             $4,135             10               $8,342
             5             $4,836             11               $8,942
             6             $5,537             12               $9,125

            To determine eligibility for household sizes greater than 12,
                        add $182 for each additional member.

PSE&G customers can pick up an application at one of PSE&G's 16 customer service centers. Locations and hours are listed on customer bills. In addition, representatives from state designated LIHEAP agencies are available at the following centers to help income-eligible people complete the applications.

Bergen County

Bergen County CAP at PSE&G Hackensack Customer Service Center

214 Hudson Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601

Monday -Thursday, 9:00 am- 4 pm

Essex County

La Casa de Don Pedro at PSE&G Newark Customer Service Center

80 Park Plaza, Newark, NJ 07102

Monday-Friday, 9:00 am-4:00 pm

La Casa de Don Pedro at PSE&G West Orange Customer Service Center

59 Main Street, West Orange, NJ 07052

Monday-Friday 9am-4:00 pm

Hudson County

P.A.C.O. at PSE&G Jersey City Customer Service Center

3 PATH Plaza, Jersey City, NJ 07306

Monday-Thursday 9am-4 pm

Middlesex County

Puerto Rican Action Board at PSE&G New Brunswick Customer Service Center

1 Penn Plaza, Albany & French Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Fridays, 10 am-4pm

PSE&G households may also be eligible for other valuable assistance programs. Applications and information about these programs are available on PSE&G's Web site at www.pseg.com/help. Information can also be found by calling the LIHEAP Hot Line at 1-800-510-3102 Monday through Saturday from 9am to 5pm.

Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) is New Jersey's oldest and largest regulated gas and electric delivery utility, serving nearly three-quarters of the state's population. PSE&G is the winner of the ReliabilityOne Award for superior electric system reliability. PSE&G is a subsidiary of Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated (PSEG) (NYSE: PEG), a diversified energy company (www.pseg.com).

Want to know what's new at PSEG? Go to www.pseg.com/getnews and sign up to have our press releases and weekly environmental commentaries sent right to your inbox.

SOURCE PSE&G

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