Jersey Central Power & Light
Struggling to Pay Your Electric Bill? We Can Help.
There are many reasons you or someone you know may need help with home energy costs. We understand and can offer a variety of programs to help you budget your monthly payments, pay winter heating bills, catch up on past-due payments, or avoid service disconnection.
See what programs are available in your area and learn about what type of assistance could be available based on your location, household size and income.
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Payment Assistance Programs
Universal Service Fund Program
The Universal Service Fund (USF) is a year-round statewide assistance program designed to help low- to moderate-income households manage their energy costs. Eligible customers receive monthly credits to make electric and gas bills more affordable. Additionally, qualifying participants may benefit from a one-time elimination of their account balance through the USF Fresh Start Program.
Apply Now
- Program available year-round
- Learn more and apply
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New Jersey Statewide Heating Assistance and Referral for Energy Services (SHARES)
SHARES is a non-profit corporation organized to provide assistance to individuals and families living in New Jersey who are in need of temporary help in paying their energy bills. This program is designed to assist customers who would otherwise have no means of assistance. A history of good faith utility payments is considered for eligibility.
JCP&L is a founding member of SHARES. Program funding is provided by JCP&L customers, company employees, and FirstEnergy shareholders. The distribution of funds is administered by community-based organizations throughout the JCP&L service territory.Apply Now
- Temporary bill payment help
- Program open year-round
- Contact SHARES Energy Assistance Hotline at 866-657-4273
- SHARES Agency Finder*
- SHARES Website*
- SHARES Contribution Form Online*
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Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP/HEAP)
The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) helps income-eligible residents with their heating and cooling bills, and makes provisions for emergency heating system services and emergency fuel assistance within the Home Energy Assistance Program.
HEAP has two components:
- HEAP Cash Program - Annual grant to help with heating costs.
- HEAP Emergency Program - Provides an emergency payment (once per heating season) for qualified low-income customers. The payment must be used to avoid a shutoff or restore electric service.
HEAP has two components:
- HEAP Cash Program - Annual grant to help with heating costs.
- HEAP Emergency Program - Provides an emergency payment (once per heating season) for qualified low-income customers. The payment must be used to avoid a shutoff or restore electric service.
Apply Now
- Program Availability is typically open October 1 - June 30
- Contact NJ211 by dialing 2-1-1
- HEAP Application and Agency Finder*
- Division of Housing and Community Resources - DCAid Eligibility Screening Tool*
- DCAid List of Agencies that Assist with Emergency HEAP*
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Lifeline
Lifeline provides funding for utility bills (electric and natural gas) for qualifying disabled persons and senior citizens. Application must be made annually to receive the benefit. There are certain program requirements. For example, the Lifeline benefit pertains only to the customer's primary residence and must be in the customer's name - or the spouse's name.
Apply Now
- Assistance for utility bills
- Program opoen year-round
- Lifeline Hotline at 800-792-9745
- Lifeline Website*
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Payment Assistance for Gas & Electric (PAGE)
PAGE is an annual assistance program designed to help zero- to moderate-income households across the state of New Jersey. PAGE benefits homeowners and renters who are New Jersey residents that have an electric and/or gas account that is any of the following:
- Currently past due
- Received a disconnection notice
- Disconnected
Minimum account balance must be $100. Grant can be applied to a security deposit. Customers with zero or low income are encouraged to apply for the Universal Service Fund (USF) or Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) in addition to the PAGE grant.
Apply Now
- Past-due and disconnection assistance
- SHARES at 866-657-4273
- SHARES PAGE Program*
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Comfort Partners Programs
The Comfort Partners Program is a free energy conservation and education program for low-income customers of Jersey Central Power & Light. The program helps customers save energy and money by reducing their electric bills. This is done by installing energy conservation measures in the home and by educating family members on their energy and conservation choices. Participation is prioritized based on the customer's energy consumption. There are household income requirements and other program qualifications.
Apply Now
- Energy Conservation
- Program open all year-round
- Contact New Jersey's Clean Energy Program™ c/o TRC at 800-915-8309
- Comfort Partner Webpage
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211 Helpline
This nationwide resource and information helpline will identify programs in your area that may assist you or someone you know with utility bills.
Apply Now
- Contact 211
- Text your ZIP Code to 898211
- 211 Website*
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Energy Assistance Days
If you could use some help paying your electric bill, be sure to attend an energy assistance event. Representatives from multiple utilities as well as Community Action Partnership agencies are on hand for these events.
To apply for assistance, you’ll need to bring Social Security cards and proof of income for all household members, your deed or rental lease and a recent electric bill.
Check back for Energy Assistance Days for 2026. We will post the dates here when they become available.
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Special Arrangements
Extended Due Date
If you are at least 60 years old or receive a Social Security or pension check, or if you receive disability assistance, we can extend your payment due date until after your check arrives.
Contact: Jersey Central Power & Light - Email or call 800-662-3115Service Disconnection OptionUnder New Jersey law, you may be eligible for an interest-free payment plan of twelve (12) equal monthly installments on the outstanding balance due on your account. Contact us today at 1-800-662-3115 to determine if you are eligible to establish a plan to prevent service disconnection.
Payment Arrangements
If conditions make it difficult to pay your electric bill on time, we can arrange affordable installments to be paid with your monthly bill. Payment arrangements help maintain your electric service while you make payments more suited to your financial situation.
To Apply:
- Log in to your account or register online to see if you are eligible for an installment plan or
- Contact Jersey Central Power & Light via Email or call 800-662-3115
Third-Party Notification
Select a third party (a friend, relative, clergy, or social service agency) to be notified, along with yourself, if your electric service is about to be disconnected. The third party is not obligated to pay overdue bills but can remind you of pending disconnection and help you make payment arrangements.
Contact: Jersey Central Power & Light - Email or call 800-662-3115Military Deferred Payment Program
This program is designed to assist customers who are having financial difficulties because their family members have been called to active military duty. Customers participating in the program may elect to defer paying either all or a part of their monthly electric bill. When the family member in the military service returns home, the account will be reviewed to determine payment arrangements for the balance owed.
Customers who have switched to an alternative generation supplier may defer the charges paid to their supplier only if that supplier offers a deferred payment program. If your supplier does not offer a deferred payment program, the supplier charges must be paid each month.
Contact: Jersey Central Power & Light - Email or call 800-662-3115 -
Medical Needs Assistance
Critical Care Program
The Critical Care Program identifies customers who use certain electrically operated life sustaining medical equipment in their home. The program helps customers - for whom a service interruption could be immediately life threatening or would make operation of necessary medical or life supporting equipment impossible or impractical - prepare for planned and unplanned power outages. Please call us if someone in your home uses this type of medical equipment.
Contact: Jersey Central Power & Light - Email or call 800-662-3115Medical Certification
Customers with severe health problems may have a Licensed Medical Professional with prescriptive authority certify in writing that a termination of electric service would aggravate the medical condition. A form will be sent to the licensed medical professional to complete and return. The medical certification, if accepted, will temporarily postpone the termination of electric service. The Company has the right to require a reasonable proof of an inability to pay as consideration of acceptance. The customer is still responsible for the past-due amount and will be given the opportunity to pay the balance in monthly installments. The certification is designed to provide the customer with additional time to pay their past-due balance. Normal billing will continue during the hold period, but any collection-related activity will cease.
Contact:If you or a member of your household have a qualifying medical condition, we have made it easier for your doctor to submit the medical certificates to us by automating the forms online. Please email us or call Customer Service at 800-662-3115 for details on the information your doctor will need to complete the medical form. - Additional Information
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Assistance Days 2025
New Jersey's Utility Assistance Days help residents who are struggling with utility bills. They offer information on programs and resources and assistance with applications and payment plans.
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