LIHEAP Deadline Fast Approaching, Residents Encouraged to Apply for Aid JERSEY CITY, N.J., March 9 /PRNewswire/ -- High natural gas costs are making it more expensive for New Jersey residents to heat their homes. As a result, there is an unprecedented amount of outreach being done to ensure that people know about the resources available to them. Officials from Hudson County, PSE&G and PACO gathered in Jersey City Thursday to talk about the need for payment assistance and to encourage residents to take advantage of programs designed to provide relief. "While there's tremendous need, only a small portion of those eligible for energy assistance actually apply," said Ralph LaRossa, PSE&G's vice president for electric delivery. "More often than not, they're just not aware there is help available or they don't know how to apply for it. We're working to put an end to that." In Hudson County, where there are a large number of Spanish-speaking residents, the language barrier compounds the problem. This is something that Eliu Rivera understands well. Rivera is the Executive Director of PACO, a bilingual community based organization that provides assistance to Hudson County residents. "The tools are there," he says. "We just need to get the word out." PSE&G and PACO are teaming with Hudson County officials to do just that. English and Spanish fact sheets with tips for dealing with high energy bills are being distributed to residents by community based organizations like schools and churches. Residents are starting to respond to materials in government offices and notices being posted by small businesses. Public service announcements touting energy conservation can be seen on NJN and heard on 660 AM radio during live coverage of NJ Devils games. And soon residents will see Spanish language messages offering help with their bills on the highly visible shuttle buses that run up and down Bergenline Avenue and Kennedy Boulevard. All of this is an effort to help residents who are having trouble making ends meet. Visibility is the key to success, the officials said. They called upon local leaders to take the message back to their communities and to help direct residents toward the assistance. The deadline for LIHEAP -- one of the larger payment assistance programs - - is fast approaching. LIHEAP can help residents offset the cost of their winter heating bills. Applicants must meet income eligibility requirements, and they must apply by March 31st. Completed applications may also qualify and automatically enroll residents in NJ's Universal Service Fund (USF), a year-long state-administered payment assistance program that considers both income and energy consumption in determining eligibility. Applications are available in all of PSE&G's 16 customer service centers, which are listed in customer's bills. Detailed information in both English and Spanish on how and where to apply for LIHEAP, can be found by calling 1-800-510-3102 or visiting http://www.pseg.com/liheap. "Enrolling in LIHEAP can make a real difference for families struggling to make ends meet," said County Executive Thomas A. DeGise. "I urge all those who qualify to take advantage of this outstanding program -- before the deadline." On Tuesday night, the United States Senate approved an additional $1 billion in LIHEAP funding. While the increase still needs to be approved by the House of Representatives and the President, early estimates show that this could mean millions of dollars in additional energy assistance money for New Jersey. "Sky-rocketing energy prices continue to threaten the health and economic well-being of families and individuals across New Jersey and our nation. That is why I continue to fight for increased funding for LIHEAP, weatherization and other programs that help our families afford their energy needs," said U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, a member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. "No family should be forced to choose between heating their home, paying their utility bill and putting food on the table for their children. I applaud PSE&G, PACO and the County of Hudson for their efforts to make needy families aware that there is assistance available to help them stay warm this winter." For consumers who are feeling the heat, but don't meet the income requirements to qualify for LIHEAP, there are other ways they might find relief. There is an organization called NJSHARES that helps people going through short-term financial problems. Qualified applicants must show a history of paying their bills on time and that they have suffered a hardship that is keeping them from paying their bills now. More information can be found by calling 1-866-657-4273. PSE&G and the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities are offering ratepayers Natural Gas Cost Cutter Kits, which are filled with energy-saving items and tips that can help them lower their energy consumption and save as much as $170 a year. To order, consumers should send a $5 check or money order with their name and address to: Niagara Conservation Corp. PO Box 2355 Morristown, NJ 07962-2355 Additionally, PSE&G is encouraging its customers to call 1-866-NJSMART, or visit http://www.pseg.com/saveenergy for a free customized home energy audit. This analysis can help residents determine which of their appliances use the most energy and provide specific recommendations for making their home more energy efficient. It also provides information on rebate programs and special incentives that can help make purchasing energy efficient lighting and appliances more affordable. Lastly, PACO and PSE&G will be hosting a workshop for non-profit organizations in Jersey City who want to learn more about how they can help residents burdened by high energy bills. The workshop will be held Monday, March 20th from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the Cunningham Library at 275 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. The workshop is free of charge. DATASOURCE: PSE&G CONTACT: ENGLISH: Jim Kennelly, (Hudson Cty), +1-201-795-6060, or Jenn Connell, (PSE&G), +1-973-430-7734; PARA ESPANOL: Rosa Pagnillo-Lopez, +1-201-376-2467 Web site: http://www.pseg.com/ http://www.pseg.com/saveenergy

Copyright