Assistance Programs
| LIHEAP and USF Monthly Pre-tax Income Limits FFY 2012 |
||
| Household Size | LIHEAP Monthly Pre-tax Income $ |
USF Monthly Pre-tax Income $ |
| 1 | $1,815 |
$1,589 |
| 2 | $2,452 |
$2,146 |
| 3 | $3,089 |
$2,703 |
| 4 | $3,725 |
$3,260 |
| 5 | $4,362 |
$3,817 |
| 6 | $4,999 |
$4,374 |
| 7 | $5,635 |
$4,931 |
| 8 | $6,272 |
$5,488 |
| 9 | $6,909 |
$6,045 |
| 10 | $7,333 |
$6,602 |
| 11 | $7,485 |
$7,159 |
| 12 | $7,638 |
$7,716 |
| Note: For LIHEAP, to determine eligibility for household sizes greater than 12, add $153 for each additional member | Note: For USF, to determine eligibility for household sizes greater than 12, add $557 for each additional member | |
LIHEAP
The New Jersey Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which is administered by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, helps you pay for heating costs and may cover certain medically-necessary cooling expenses. Even if your heat is included in your rent, you may qualify, if you meet the eligibility criteria. You may submit an application for LIHEAP from November 1 through April 30. When you apply for LIHEAP, you are also automatically applying for the Universal Service Fund (see directly below), that covers natural gas and electricity. For more information, please call 1-800-510-3102 or click here.
The TRUE Program helps low to moderate income residents of NJ that are over income for the LIHEAP program with their gas and electric bills. For more information visit the TRUE Program website, or contact 732-982-8710.
USF (Universal Service Fund) – Energy
The State of New Jersey Universal Service Fund (USF), administered by the Department of Community Affairs (DCA), was created by the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to help make energy bills more affordable for qualifying households whose annual household income is at or below 175% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). USF helps make energy bills more affordable for low income customers. If you are eligible, USF can lower the amount you have to pay for natural gas and electricity. When you apply for LIHEAP (see directly above), you are also automatically applying for USF.
Fresh Start, a special program under USF, allows eligible New Jersey households participating in USF for the first time to earn forgiveness for pre-existing arrearages by making full, on-time payments for 12 months.
For more information about USF, please go to www.energyassistance.nj.gov or call toll free at: 1-866-240-1347.
NEW! If you receive State or Federal Energy Assistance in the form of LIHEAP, USF, NJ SHARES, etc. please click here for an alternate Oil Group application.
Application Locations for LIHEAP and USF
Atlantic | Bergen | Burlington | Camden | Cape May | Cumberland | Essex | Gloucester | Hudson | Hunterdon | Mercer | Middlesex | Monmouth | Morris | Ocean | Passaic | Salem | Somerset | Sussex | Union | Warren
NJ SHARES
NJ SHARES is a non-profit corporation that provides assistance to individuals and families living in New Jersey who are in need of temporary help in paying their energy bills. To qualify for NJ SHARES, a person or family must be facing a financial crisis and not be eligible for welfare or other income-based energy assistance programs. Recipients must also have a history of good-faith payments of their utility bills. Applications for NJ SHARES grants can be made at any of the more than 150 participating social service agencies throughout the state. Upon approval, recipients may receive a one-time grant of up to $700 for gas and up to $300 for electric (or up to $700 for an all-electric home).
Please call NJ SHARES at 1-866-657-4273 or visit them at www.njshares.org.
Comfort Partners
This Program is designed to improve energy affordability for income eligible households through direct installation of free energy efficiency measures and education about steps everyone can take to save energy. Participants are asked to partner with the program to develop and carry out a household energy savings Action Plan.
For more information please call 1-888-773-8326 or click here.
Winter Termination Program
Administered by the BPU, the Winter Termination Program (WTP) protects specific categories of customers from having their gas or electric shut off between November 15th and March 15th. Those enrolled in specific programs (such as SSI, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, USF and Lifeline) are protected by WTP, and an additional "catch-all" category is included for people unable to pay their utility bills because of circumstances beyond their control such as unemployment or illness
For more information on the Winter Termination Program, please call 1-800-624-0241.
Underground Storage Tank
Due to insufficient funds, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) is no longer accepting new applications for the Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Remediation, Upgrade and Closure Program for non-leaking tanks (CLICK HERE for full details), effective May 3, 2011.
For the leaking tank program co-administered by the EDA and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), the NJDEP will continue to accept new applications, record their date received, and hold them until sufficient funds become available.
For both leaking and non-leaking tanks, as of September 15, 2011, in-house applications that have been deemed complete by EDA staff are being processed with the 2012 State appropriation.
Applications that are in-house but incomplete will be reviewed and processed in the order that they were received and held until sufficient funds become available.If you have questions regarding these program changes, please call 866-534-7789.
CITGO / Citizens Energy
In partnership with CITGO, Citizens Energy works with thousands of oil heat dealers and local fuel assistance agencies in 17 states to provide deliveries of home heating oil to those in need. This year the Oil Heat Program will provide eligible families a one-time delivery of 100 free gallons of home heating oil.
Phone: 1-800-JOE-4-OIL or 1-800-563-4645 or visit their website at www.citizensenergy.com.
Federal & State Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
The amount of the EITC depends on your total earnings and family size. If you receive the federal EITC and earn less than $20,000 a year, you may be eligible for the state EITC. To apply: for the federal EITC call 1-800-829-3676 or visit www.irs.gov, for the state EITC call 1-888-895-9179 or go to www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation.
Equal Payment Plan
Sometimes affordability is as simple as an equal payment plan. Call your service provider and ask to be placed on an equal payment plan, so that you can pay the same amount every month and avoid high spikes in your bill.
WARMAdvantage Program
The objective of the WARMAdvantage Program (CLICK HERE for full details) is to improve the energy efficiency of natural gas heating systems and water heaters. The N.J. Clean Energy Program offers rebates on furnaces, boilers and water heaters. Furnaces and boilers can qualify for incentives of $300 to $400, depending on the level of efficiency. Note: This program is generally limited to natural gas customers and electric customers of participating investor-owned utilities; however, for a limited time (effective October 1, 2011) the program will also offer incentives to residential customers that use oil or propane heating systems.
Natural Gas Customers
The WARMAdvantage Program’s objective is to improve the energy efficiency of space-heating systems and water heaters. The New Jersey Clean Energy Program offers rebates on furnaces, boilers and water heaters. Furnaces and boilers can qualify for incentives of $300 to $400, depending on level of efficiency.
In order to be eligible for this program, applicants must be current residential gas customers of Elizabethtown Gas, New Jersey Natural Gas, Public Service Electric and Gas, or South Jersey Gas. Several of these utilities also offer supplemental incentives for residential space and water heating applications. Those participating in the New Jersey Energy Star Home New Construction Program are not eligible to apply. Installations in newly constructed homes are only eligible if the home is in the Smart Growth Area.
Oil or Propane Users
Effective October 1, 2011, customers that use propane or oil for space-heating and water heating are eligible for incentives under terms similar to those offered to eligible natural gas customers. In order to qualify for incentives new boilers, furnaces, and water heaters must meet the minimum program efficiency requirements and replace an appliance in an existing New Jersey home. Appliances installed in new construction are not eligible for incentives. Equipment must be purchased by June 15, 2012 in order to be eligible for a rebate.
Residential Electric Customers
Solar hot water heaters that replace or supplement an existing electric water heater are eligible for a flat incentive of $1,200 per system. Systems must be selected from the Clean Energy Program list of approved solar hot water heaters in order to qualify for a rebate. This incentive is only available to qualifying electric customers of Atlantic City Electric, Jersey Central Power & Light, Public Service Electric & Gas, or Rockland Electric.
CONTACT:
Customer Assistance – WarmAdvantage/COOLAdvantage Program
New Jersey Clean Energy Program
c/o Honeywell
145 Route 46 West
Wayne, NJ 07470
Phone: (866) 657-6278
Web site: www.NJCleanEnergy.com
COOLAdvantage Program
The COOLAdvantage Program's objective is to improve the energy efficiency of new central electric air conditioners and heat pumps. To promote both the sale of energy efficient units and proper installation techniques, the N.J. Clean Energy Program offers rebates for properly sized and installed high efficiency systems. In order to qualify for a rebate, the unit must meet a minimum energy efficient standard, based on its SEER, EER or HSPF ratings, with higher rated systems receiving higher rebates. The different rebate amounts and unit specifications can be found at the program website.
CONTACT:
Customer Assistance – WarmAdvantage/COOLAdvantage Program
New Jersey Clean Energy Program
c/o Honeywell
145 Route 46 West
Wayne, NJ 07470
Phone: (866) 657-6278
Web site: www.NJCleanEnergy.com
ENERGY STAR Homes Program
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, in conjunction with New Jersey utilities, offers the ENERGY STAR Homes Program (CLICK HERE for full details). The program provides incentives available to builders who construct homes that are 15% more efficient than homes built to the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC 2006). In order to achieve this classification, a home must score 85 or less out of a possible 100 points on the Home Energy Rating Scale (HERS). New homes and gut rehabs of existing homes throughout the state can qualify for the ENERGY STAR home designation and incentives; however, new homes must be located designated New Jersey Smart Growth areas in order to qualify.
Note: Effective October 1, 2011 the program is once again available to customers of the state's municipal electric utilities and those that use oil or propane as a heating fuel. This allowance will be available through June 30, 2012 or until funds are exhausted.
CONTACT:
New Jersey Clean Energy Program – Residential Market Manager
c/o Honeywell
145 Route 46 West
Wayne, NJ 07470
Phone: (866) 657-6278
Fax: (508) 672-7910
Web Site: www.njcleanenergy.com/
New Jersey Renewable Energy Incentive Program
The New Jersey Clean Energy Program (CLICK HERE for full details), from 1999 electric restructuring legislation, provides for investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy through a "Societal Benefits Charge" (SBC) collected from all customers of electric public utilities. In March 2001, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) approved funding for renewable-energy programs, including a customer-sited renewables rebate program for homes, businesses, institutions and non-profits.
Currently, eligible technologies include fuel cells, small wind-energy systems and/or sustainable biomass-energy technologies. Systems must have at least a five-year, all-inclusive warranty. Eligible systems should be sized to produce no more than 100% of the historical or expected (if new construction) amount of electricity consumed at a system's site. It is important to note that system capacity limits and rebate amounts (including those for system additions) are calculated on a "per site" basis. In other words, for program purposes multiple systems on the same parcel or located on adjacent or contiguous properties under common ownership are aggregated together as a single system.
In addition, all agricultural, commercial, industrial, and non-profit customers must apply for a receive a Tax Clearance Certificate from the New Jersey Division of Taxation in order to be eligible for financial assistance under this program. The objective of this new requirement is to ensure that all recipients of taxpayer funded support are in full compliance with their state tax obligations. This mandate does not affect single-family residential customers.
NOTE: The New Jersey Clean Energy Program has issued a notice stating that the wind energy portion of this program is temporarily on hold and new applications are not being accepted at this time. The description of the program refers to program terms as they stood in early 2011 prior to the suspension. Please also note that rebates for photovoltaic (PV) installations are no longer offered under this program. PV systems remain eligible to generate Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs) and may be eligible for specialized programs based in the SREC market. Click here for further details on the individual utility programs.
CONTACT:
Benjamin Scott Hunter
New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
Renewable Energy Program Administrator, Office of Clean Energy
44 South Clinton Avenue
P.O. Box 350
Trenton, NJ 08625-0350
Phone: (609) 777-3300
Fax: (609) 777-3330
E-Mail: benjamin.hunter@bpu.state.nj.us
Web site: www.bpu.state.nj.us
Home Performance with Energy Star Loan Program
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJ BPU) offers a Home Performance with Energy Star Program for homeowners that want to improve the energy efficiency of their homes. Qualifying measures include HVAC improvements, appliance upgrades and the installation of better insulation, as well as safety measures like radon and smoke detectors. In order to receive incentives from this program, eligible work must be performed by a BPI-certified contractor and costs must exceed $2,500.
Building contractors have the opportunity for incentives through the Home Performance with Energy Star Program. Contractors that are certified and accredited by the Building Performance Interested can qualify for low-cost training and discounts on diagnostic equipment. Contractors can contact Conservation Services Group for more information on becoming accredited.
CONTACT:
Public Information – Renewable Energy Program
New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
Office of Clean Energy
c/o Conservation Services Group
75 Lincoln Highway
Iselin, NJ 08830
Phone: (866) 657-6278
Web Site: www.njcleanenergy.com/renewable-energy/home/home
Solar Energy Sales Tax Exemption
With the Solar Energy Sales Tax Exemption (CLICK HERE for full detals), offers a full exemption from the state's sales tax (currently 7%) for all solar energy equipment. This exemption is available to all taxpayers. All major types solar energy equipment, including equipment for passive solar design, are considered eligible for the exemption. The exemption does not apply to devices that would be required regardless of the energy source being utilized.
CONTACT:
Benjamin Scott Hunter
New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
Renewable Energy Program Administrator, Office of Clean Energy
2 Gateway Center
Newark, NJ 07102
Phone: (609) 777-3300
Web Site: www.bpu.state.nj.us
Customer Service Center
New Jersey Department of the Treasury
Taxation Division
P.O. Box 281
Trenton, NJ 08625-0281
Phone: (609) 292-6400
E-Mail: nj.taxation@treas.state.nj.us
Web Site: www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/
New Jersey Board of Public Utilties — Solar Renewable Energy Certificates
New Jersey's renewable portfolio standard (RPS) (CLICK HERE for details) — one of the most aggressive in the United States — requires each electricity supplier/provider serving retail customers in the state to include in the electricity it sells 22.5% qualifying renewables by 2021. The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) made extensive revisions to the RPS in April 2006, significantly increasing the required percentages of "Class I" and "Class II" renewable energy, as well as the required separate percentage of solar electricity. By 2021, 2.12% solar electricity — an amount estimated to be 1,500 megawatts (MW) — is required in New Jersey.
Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs) represent the renewable attributes of solar generation, bundled in minimum denominations of one megawatt-hour (MWh) of production. New Jersey's SREC program provides a means for SRECs to be created and verified, and allows electric suppliers to buy these certificates in order to meet their solar RPS requirements. All electric suppliers must use the SREC program to demonstrate compliance with the RPS. New Jersey's on-line marketplace for trading SRECs, launched in June 2004, is the first such operation in the world. The price of SRECs is determined primarily by their market availability and the price of the Solar Alternative Compliance Payment (SACP) for the state RPS. The SACP is effectively a ceiling on the value of SRECs because it is the per MWh payment that electricity suppliers must make if they fail to obtain enough SRECs to cover their RPS obligation.
The price for an SREC is expected to average approximately $100 per MWh lower than the SACP during a given year. Thus far in 2008 for instance, under the previous SACP of $300 per MWh or $0.30 per kWh, the SREC program compensated system owners an average rate of about $230 per MWh ($0.23 per kWh) generated.
CONTACT:
New Jersey Clean Energy Program – SREC Registration Program
c/o Conservation Services Group
75 Lincoln Highway, Suite 100
Iselen, NJ 08830
Phone: (866) 657-6278
Web Site: www.njcleanenergy.com/
New Jersey SmartStart Buildings – New Construction and Retrofits
New Jersey SmartStart Buildings (CLICK HERE for details) is a program sponsored by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities in partnership with New Jersey's gas and electric utilities. The program has main components: new commercial/industrial construction, commercial/industrial retrofits, and schools. The incentives provided through this program are available to non-residential retail electric and/or gas service customers of the participating New Jersey utilities: Atlantic City Electric, Jersey Central Power & Light, Rockland Electric Company, New Jersey Natural Gas, Elizabethtown Gas, PSE&G, and South Jersey Gas. Incentives for new construction are only available for projects within New Jersey Smart Growth* areas while retrofit incentives are available to all commercial and industrial customers as described above. Schools are exempt from the Smart Growth requirement for new construction, as are building expansions and replacements that meet certain criteria. New Jersey SmartStart Buildings received its funding through New Jersey's Societal Benefits Charge (SBC), and is executed by the NJ utility that serves the location of the proposed project.
In addition to the design incentives and technical support available through New Jersey SmartStart Buildings, financial incentives for qualifying equipment are also available. Rebates are provided for HVAC equipment, lighting, premium motors, natural gas water heaters, variable frequency drives, and custom measures approved by the participating utility. The rebate amounts are all determined by the equipment type, size and/or efficiency level.
Click here for more information.
CONTACT:
New Jersey Clean Energy Program – Commercial & Industrial Market Manager
c/o TRC Energy Services
900 Route 9 North, Suite 104
Woodbridge, NJ 07095
Phone: (866) 657-6278
Fax: (732) 855-0422
Web site: www.NJCleanEnergy.com
NJ EASE
NJ EASE (New Jersey Easy Access, Single Entry) (CLICK HERE for full details) is the easy way for seniors and their families to get information about and access senior services.
NJ EASE is one toll-free telephone number to put you in touch with someone to help you learn about and apply for important programs and benefits. NJ EASE staff members are trained to provide you with answers and information on a wide variety of topics, including:
- Healthcare
- Insurance
- Home Care Services
- Long Term Care Options
- Transportation
- Social Activities
- Nutrition
- Volunteer Opportunities
- And more...
NJ EASE promotes independence, dignity and choice for New Jersey's older adults. For more information, call 1-877-222-3737 or visit www.state.nj.us/health/senior/sanjease.shtml.
Telephone Assistance
Telephone assistance programs provide a discount on your monthly bill and/or provide a reduction in installation (hook-up) fees. Eligibility is determined based on your income or participation in other assistance programs. In general, if you participate in any of the following programs you also may qualify for telephone assistance: Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Temporary Assistance to Needy Families/Work First New Jersey (TANF), General Assistance, Lifeline Utility Credit/Tenants Lifeline Assistance, Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled (PAAD), Food Stamp Program, Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP/HEAP), Medicaid.
Telephone assistance is available to you if you are a qualified residential telephone customer. The federal government sponsors two programs, namely Lifeline and Link-Up:
- Lifeline provides you with a discount to your monthly bill that could be as much as $16.29 depending on your local telephone company.
- Link-Up provides a 50 percent reduction in the initial telephone connection charges (up to $30.00).
In order to be eligible for any of these assistance programs, you must either participate in one of the qualifying programs specified by each plan or your income must meet certain criteria. When you are seeking telephone assistance, please keep in mind that each telephone company and/or each program has different eligibility requirements, different benefits available and different restrictions. Some programs have restrictions on the optional services available to participants.
The following list of telephone service providers participate in Lifeline Assistance and Link Up programs in New Jersey: Embarq/United Telephone Company of NJ, Inc., Verizon New Jersey Inc, and Warwick Valley Telephone Company:
- If you are a Verizon New Jersey customer, please call NJSHARES at 1-888-337-3339 or visit them at NJ SHARES for more information.
- If you are a customer of Embarq/United Telephone Company of New Jersey or Warwick Valley Telephone Company, please contact your local telephone company to participate in their program.