Assistance Programs
| LIHEAP and USF Monthly Pre-tax Income Limits 11/1/2009 to 10/31/2010 — FFY 2010 |
||
| Household Size | LIHEAP Monthly Pre-tax Income $ |
USF Monthly Pre-tax Income $ |
| 1 | $2,031 | $1,580 |
| 2 | $2,732 | $2,125 |
| 3 | $3,434 | $2,670 |
| 4 | $4,135 | $3,216 |
| 5 | $4,836 | $3,762 |
| 6 | $5,537 | $4,307 |
| 7 | $6,239 | $4,852 |
| 8 | $6,940 | $5,398 |
| 9 | $7,641 | $5,943 |
| 10 | $8,342 | $6,489 |
| 11 | $8,942 | $7,034 |
| 12 | $9,125 | $7,579 |
| Note: For LIHEAP, to determine eligibility for household sizes greater than 12, add $182 for each additional member | Note: For USF, to determine eligibility for household sizes greater than 12, add $545 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.
For more information, please call 1-800-510-3102 or click here.
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). The program was designed so that households most in need receive the highest benefit by using a percentage of income formula. Benefits appear as a credit on the household electric and/or gas bill (capped at $1,800 per year).
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.
NJ EASE
NJ EASE (New Jersey Easy Access, Single Entry) 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.
Underground Storage Tank Funding Now Available to Homeowners with Non-Leaking Oil Tanks
The Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Remediation, Upgrade and Closure Program provides loans and grants to eligible applicants to help finance project costs for the closure and replacement of a non-leaking residential underground storage tank (UST). This funding assistance is available through the New Jersey Economic Development Authoritiy (EDA). If you are interested in taking advantage of this program, please review the information at the EDA's Underground Storage Tank Funding Program. If you have additional questions, contact the Customer Support Administrator at 609-777-4898 or email Tanks@njeda.com.
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.
Call: 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 WARMAdvantage Program's objective 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 level of efficiency. A water heater with an Energy Factor of 0.62 or greater can qualify for a $25 rebate while a water heater with an EF of 0.82 or higher qualifies for a $300 rebate. The incentive levels listed here are valid for equipment purchased on or after June 1, 2008.
Customers of Atlantic City Electric, South Jersey Gas, PSE&G and Elizabethtown Gas are eligible to apply for this rebate. 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.
Click here for more information.
CONTACT:
Public Information Officer
New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
Office of Clean Energy
P.O. Box 350
44 South Clinton Avenue
Trenton, NJ 08625-0350
Phone: (877) 778-6527
Phone 2: (609) 777-3300
Fax: (609) 777-3330
E-Mail: info@njcep.com
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, with incentives available to builders who construct homes that are 30% more efficient than homes built to the national Model Energy Code. In order to achieve this classification, a home must score 86 out of a possible 100 points on the Home Energy Rating Scale (HERS).
Builders can qualify for two types of incentives under this program: Core Incentives and Supplemental Incentives. For Core Incentives, if the home is rated as an ENERGY STAR home, the builder will receive a base amount dependent on the type of residence (single-family or multi-family), as well as an incentive per square foot of the house, up to a maximum incentive of $2900. Supplemental Incentives are available for energy efficient HVAC systems and appliances. Further, an ENERGY STAR rated home is required to have at least three Energy Star labeled hard-wired lighting fixtures, but additional fixtures will qualify for incentives.
Homes that are built anywhere in New Jersey can qualify for the ENERGY STAR home designation, but only homes in the designated New Jersey Smart Growth areas can qualify for the financial incentives. In addition, effective January 28, 2008 building owners of all multi-family new construction units 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.
Interested builders should contact the New Jersey ENERGY STAR Homes Program. Current incentive amounts are located at the program website.
Click here for more information.
CONTACT:
Public Information Officer
New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
New Jersey Energy Star Homes
2 Gateway Center
Newark, NJ 07102
Phone: (866) 378-2765
Web site: www.njenergystarhomes.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 above. Please note that rebate levels were recently revised, effective for all systems purchased on or after June 1, 2008. The new rebate levels are lower than the previous levels and are now split between the customer and the contractor.
Customers of Atlantic City Electric, Jersey Central Power & Light, PSE&G and Rockland Electric Company are eligible to apply for this rebate. 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 or Designated Center.
Click here for more information.
CONTACT:
Public Information Officer
New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
Office of Clean Energy
44 South Clinton Avenue
PO Box 350
Trenton, NJ 08625-0350
Phone: (877) 786-5278
Phone 2: (609) 777-3300
Fax: (609) 777-3330
E-Mail: info@njcep.com
Web site: www.NJCleanEnergy.com
Sustainable Development Loan Fund
The Office of Sustainability within the N.J. Commerce and Economic Growth Commission oversees a sustainable development low-interest loan fund to assist in capitalizing sustainable projects. Funding development that engages in pollution prevention, energy conservation or sustainable production are all eligible measures under this loan. Eligible capital expenditures include, but are not limited to equipment, machinery, land, buildings, and production and marketing costs. In order to apply, the applicant should submit a complete notarized application and a $500 application fee. The application will then be reviewed on its technical merits and then on the applicant's financial grounding.
Click here for more information.
CONTACT:
Public Information Officer
N.J. Commerce and Economic Growth Commission
20 W. State Street
12th Floor, PO Box 820
Trenton, NJ 08625
Phone: (609) 777-0885
Phone 2: (866) 534-7789
New Jersey Clean Energy Rebate Program
New Jersey's 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.
Eligible technologies include fuel cells, photovoltaic (PV) systems, 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. Financial incentives for systems larger than one megawatt (MW) are available through the state's Renewable Energy Project Grants and Financing Program. 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.
An additional important point is that effective January 28, 2008 all agricultural, commercial, industrial, non-profit, and SUNLIT 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 appear to effect residential customers at this time.
Click here for more information.
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.
Click here for more information.
CONTACT:
Customer Service
Conservation Services Group
Customer Care Center
75 Lincoln Highway, Suite 100
Iselin, NJ 08830
Phone: (866) 657-6278
Fax: (508) 672-7910
E-Mail: njhomeperformance@csgrp.com
Web site: www.csgrp.com/
Solar and Wind Energy Systems Exemption
New Jersey offers a full exemption from the state's 7% sales tax for all solar and wind energy equipment. This exemption is available to all taxpayers. All major types solar energy equipment, including equipment for passive solar design, is considered eligible for the exemption. The statute directed the New Jersey Division of Energy Planning and Conservation in the Department of Energy to establish technical standards for qualifying solar energy systems.
Click here for more information.
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
New Jersey Board of Public Utilties — Solar Renewable Energy Certificates
New Jersey's renewable portfolio standard (RPS) — 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.
Click here for more information.
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
PSE&G — Solar Loan Program
Public Service Electric and Gas (PSE&G) of New Jersey offers loans for "behind the meter" photovoltaic (PV) systems to all customer classes in its electric service territory. The program will provide loans covering 40-60% of the cost of PV systems with the remainder to be financed separately by the customer. A loan term of 15 years is available to non-residential customers at an interest rate of 11.11%. Residential customers will potentially be eligible for a loan term of 10 years at a 6.5% interest rate, although this portion of the program is not yet active. The loan program is only available to customers eligible for net metering under the state rules.
Click here for more information.
CONTACT:
Solar Loan Program
Public Service Electric and Gas (PSE&G)
80 Park Plaza
Newark, NJ 07102
Phone: (973) 430-8460
E-Mail: solarloan@pseg.com
Web site: www.pseg.com/customer/overview.jsp
New Jersey SmartStart Buildings
New Jersey SmartStart Buildings 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:
Public Information Officer
New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
Office of Clean Energy
44 South Clinton Avenue
PO Box 350
Trenton, NJ 08625-0350
Phone: (877) 786-5278
Phone 2: (609) 777-3300
Fax: (609) 777-3330
E-Mail: info@njcep.com
Web site: www.NJCleanEnergy.com