Jersey Central Power & Light
Assistance and Service Programs - Help Paying Your BillDo you need help with your electric bill? Please review these programs for the solution that works best for you.
Energy Assistance Programs
Call the numbers associated with each of the following programs for further information:
- Universal Service Fund Program (USF) -- New Jersey Department of Community Affairs 1-866-240-1347
USF provides low-income customers a payment plan to help lower the monthly cost for electric service. Participants pay a maximum percentage of their total household income for electric and natural gas. USF is a statewide program administered by the New Jersey Department of Human Services. Fresh Start, the debt forgiveness component of USF, provides a one-time opportunity to eliminate pre-program account arrearages. There are household income and other program qualification requirements.
- New Jersey Statewide Heating Assistance and Referral for Energy Services (New Jersey SHARES) -- www.njshares.org* or 1-866-657-4273
New Jersey 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 New Jersey 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.
To make a contribution to New Jersey SHARES, please complete and return this contribution form.
- Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) -- 1-800-662-3115
HEAP is a federally funded grant program administered by the State of New Jersey Department of Human Services through a network of local community-based organizations. HEAP provides customers help with paying winter heating bills, and occasionally summer cooling bills. Application for HEAP must be made annually. There are household income requirements for this program.
HEAP has two components:
1. HEAP Cash Program - Annual grant to help with heating costs.
2. HEAP Emergency Program - Provides a grant to help avoid shut-off of electric service, which resulted from over-due bills. This grant also can be used to restore service that has already been shut off during the winter months.
- Lifeline -- 1-800-792-9745 or 1-609-588-7182
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.
- Payment Assistance for Gas & Electric (PAGE) -- NJPowerOn.org* or 732-982-8710
PAGE is an annual assistance program designed to help low- to moderate-income households across the state of New Jersey who are experiencing economic hardship and struggling to pay their electric and natural gas bills.
The PAGE energy assistance program benefits homeowners and renters who are New Jersey residents; have not have received Universal Service Fund in the past 6 months or Home Energy Assistance within the last heating season, face a crisis situation that includes a documented notice of overdue payment for gas and/or electric service, and have a past history of making regular payments toward their utility bills.
- Comfort Partners Program -- 1-800-915-8309
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. Click here for more information.
- Military Deferred Payment Program -- 1-800-686-3421
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 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 a supplier does not offer a deferred payment program, the supplier charges must be paid each month.
Payment Arrangements
- Extended Due Date
If you are at least 60 years old and receive a Social Security or pension check, or if you receive disability assistance, and your electric bill is usually due just before your monthly benefit check comes, we can extend your payment due date until after your check arrives.
- Extended Payment Plan
If conditions make it difficult to pay your electric bill on time, we can arrange an extended payment plan. This maintains service while you make payments more suited to your financial situation.
- 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.
Medical Needs Assistance
Contact us for information about the following programs:
- Critical Customer Care Program
The Critical Customer 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 contact us if someone in your home uses this type of medical equipment.
- Medical Certification
Customers with severe health problems may have a licensed physician certify in writing that a termination of electric service would be especially dangerous. The medical certification will postpone the termination of electric service for 30 days. The certification is designed to provide the customer with additional time to pay their past-due balance. The customer is still responsible for the past-due amount and will be given the opportunity to pay the balance in monthly installments.
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