More New Jersey residents would be eligible to receive assistance to pay their utility bills under legislation advanced by the Assembly Aging and Human Services Committee on Thursday. The committee also moved forward with bills that would streamline the application process for assistance programs and protect residents from utility shutoffs during the hot summer months.
The committee advanced the following bills:
Bill A5440, sponsored by Assemblymen Wayne DeAngelo and Kevin Egan and Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor Marin, would require State agencies that administer utility bill payment assistance programs or energy efficiency programs to review and increase the qualifying income limits for resident customers within one year of the effective date of the bill. This legislation will provide relief to the many families who are facing high energy costs and do not currently qualify for support from utility assistance programs.
Bill A5435, sponsored by Assemblyman Chris Tully, Assemblywoman Andrea Katz and Assemblyman Balvir Singh, would make it easier for ratepayers to apply for help. Specifically, the bill would direct State agencies and non-profits to contract with the Division of Housing and Community Resources in the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) if they administer their own utility assistance program. Together, they would establish a consolidated, user-friendly website-based application for residential utility assistance programs on the DCA’s website.
Bill A5563, sponsored by Assemblywoman Pintor Marin, would direct the DCA and the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to each establish the “Summer Termination Program.” The bill would prevent local utilities (local authority, municipal utility, rural electric cooperatives or public utility) from discontinuing electric, sewer, or water services to certain residents during warm weather, when certain conditions are met. Residential customers would be eligible for this program if they already receive assistance under the “Winter Termination Program” or if they are unable to pay their utility bill due to certain circumstances.