Newsroom & Public Notices

UAD to Connect Residents to Cost-Saving Programs

EWING, NJ – The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) will host the Mercer County Utility Assistance Day (UAD) on Thursday, August 14, in partnership with Mercer County and Ewing Township. The event will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at St. Paul AME Zion Church, 1130 Lower Ferry Road, Ewing, NJ 08618. 

“With hot summer weather upon us, our upcoming Mercer County Utility Assistance Day in Ewing will be an excellent opportunity to connect with service providers to help you and your family secure savings through utility bill relief,” said NJBPU President Christine Guhl-Sadovy. “We are here to help and UADs are part of our ongoing commitment to connecting residents face-to-face with NJBPU staff and other partners that can help residents sign up for available cost-saving programs.”

UADs have proven to be highly effective in helping connect residents with social services and assistance programs offered by State and utility providers. The Mercer County UAD in Ewing is the latest in a series of successful UADs, where over 9,500 residents have cumulatively attended, including recently in Cliffside Park, Linden, Burlington City, Phillipsburg, and Bridgeton.

“Utility Assistance Day is an important opportunity to connect residents with programs that can help ease the financial burden of utility costs, especially as energy prices continue to rise,” said Senator Shirley K. Turner. “I commend the Board of Public Utilities and President Christine Guhl-Sadovy for organizing this event and bringing vital resources directly to our communities. Ensuring that families can access the support they need is essential to maintaining their well-being and preserving economic stability across New Jersey.”

Participating organizations include: PSE&G; NJ Shares, Inc.; NJ Clean Energy Program; Humanitaire Chretien Sans Frontiere (HCSF); Mercer County Administration; NJ Department of Human Services; and Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton.

“We know that utility costs are a real concern for many families in Ewing Township and across New Jersey,” said New Jersey Department of Community Affairs Jacquelyn A. Suárez. “That’s why we’re encouraging residents to explore available energy assistance programs. If you're having trouble keeping up with your home energy bills, help is available, and applying is easier than you might think. Programs like the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and the Universal Service Fund could offer the support you need.”

“This is a wonderful opportunity for Mercer County residents to learn about the utility assistance programs available and how to apply. Many of the individuals and families that we serve at the New Jersey Department of Human Services are eligible for utility assistance but may not know it. This includes individuals and families participating in the Work First New Jersey program, the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, and older adults or people with disabilities participating in the Lifeline Utility Assistance Program,” said Human Services Sarah Adelman. “I encourage residents concerned about higher utility bills to attend this informative event to learn what assistance may be available.”

"Events like Utilities Assistance Day are critical in connecting residents to the help they need,” said Ewing Mayor Bert H. Steinmann. "I’m proud to welcome this effort to Ewing, and I thank our partners at Mercer County and the Board of Public Utilities for bringing these services directly into the community. St. Paul AME Zion Church is a perfect host for this kind of outreach—offering support, compassion, and practical help to those who need it most.”

"Many in our community have been struggling with their utility bills this Summer, and we're grateful to BPU for organizing this opportunity for Mercer residents to receive help," said Mercer County Executive Dan Benson. "Mercer County and other service providers will also be on-hand to assist attendees with a wide range of possible needs."

To determine eligibility for utility assistance on-site, residents attending the Mercer County UAD in Ewing Township should bring the following:

• One month of income statements from within the past eight weeks (or a zero-income statement) for all adult household members;
• Copies of social security cards or residency status for all household members;
• Proof of address (i.e., copy of rental lease or housing authority letter). (If you are a homeowner, please bring your tax bill, mortgage statement, or deed.); and
• All pages of electric, natural gas, and/or heating bills.

Additionally, customers in arrears who enroll in the Universal Service Fund (USF) program will be automatically screened for the Fresh Start program. Fresh Start provides eligible USF customers an opportunity to have their overdue gas and electric balances forgiven by paying only their current monthly bills on time and in full. Fresh Start is available to customers once every five years. To self-screen for USF eligibility or apply online, please visit www.nj.gov/dca/dcaid or call 2-1-1 for more information.

For those unable to attend, please call 2-1-1 to learn more about New Jersey’s utility assistance programs. Those with complaints or concerns regarding their utility company are encouraged to call the NJBPU at 800-624-0241 or file online here.

Media Contact: Alonza Robertson (212) 920-1679; Alonza.Robertson@bpu.nj.gov 

About the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) 

NJBPU is a state agency and regulatory authority mandated to ensure safe, adequate and proper utility services at reasonable rates for New Jersey customers. Critical services regulated by NJBPU include natural gas, electricity, water, wastewater, telecommunications and cable television. The Board has general oversight and responsibility for monitoring utility service, responding to consumer complaints, and investigating utility accidents. To find out more about NJBPU, visit our website at www.nj.gov/bpu.