PSE&G Says Deadline is Approaching For Help in Paying Heating Bills

NEWARK, N.J., April 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Public Service Electric & Gas Company is reminding its customers that Monday, April 30 is the deadline to apply for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and for LIHEAP emergency assistance.

LIHEAP provides assistance to families and individuals to help pay for home heating and medically necessary cooling costs. Homeowners should apply and renters may qualify if their heat is included in their rent. Only the last month of income counts toward eligibility, so many newly unemployed or underemployed may now qualify. Income-eligible households typically receive about $300 toward heating costs and $160 toward electric costs for those needing medically necessary cooling.    

Customers who have already received LIHEAP assistance and who still are having difficulty paying their winter heating bills may be eligible for additional LIHEAP emergency assistance. To apply, customers must heat with PSE&G, have an LIHEAP payment posted on their PSE&G heating (gas or electric) bill and have a shut-off notice. If approved, they may receive up to $450 toward their bill.

"We're appealing to the public to let their relatives and friends know they should take advantage of these programs if they are eligible," said Joseph A Forline, PSE&G's vice president of customer operations. "Outreach is key to reaching those who may benefit from this financial assistance. Too many eligible families don't apply or miss the deadline. We'd like to see that change."

To see if your household is income-eligible for LIHEAP and and to find out where to apply, visit www.pseg.com/help  or call 1-800-510-3102 Monday-Saturday from 8 am to 5 pm. Applications also are available at the PSE&G's 16 walk-in Customer Service Centers listed on customers' utility bills.

The 2012 maximum income limits for LIHEAP are shown below.

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).

SOURCE Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G)