For Immediate Release:	Contact: Bailey Lawrence
Date: 08/26/2024	6099401099

PERTH AMBOY – The Murphy Administration today highlighted the Residential Energy Assistance Payment (REAP) initiative, which will provide financial relief to thousands of eligible households, further advancing the Administration’s efforts to improve affordability across the Garden State. During the September bill cycle, a $175 one-time bill credit will be automatically issued to approximately 278,000 qualifying residential ratepayers on their electric or gas bills.

 

“Making our state more affordable for New Jersey families has been the top priority since day one. Costly utility bills can stress household budgets and directly impact the bottom line, making it difficult for residents to afford other necessities,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “Through the REAP initiative, we are putting money back into the pockets of ratepayers across the state, delivering critical assistance to individuals and families by easing the financial burden of high utility bills.”

 

“The REAP initiative highlights our dedication to making New Jersey a more affordable place to live, ensuring every resident can keep their lights on and their homes warm – or cool - without sacrificing other essentials,” said Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin. “The initiative offers relief to those who need it most, especially as utility costs continue to challenge family budgets. It’s great to see this resource added to the growing list of support available to residents who need a little extra help in our state.”

 

“After a historic summer of record-breaking heat, New Jersey’s ratepayers will certainly be facing higher utility costs,” said Assemblywoman Yvonne Lopez. “Thanks to the BPU’s Residential Energy Payment initiative, ratepayers will be getting a break with a $175 bill credit to nearly 300,000 residents. I applaud this program’s efforts as we continue to do everything we can to make New Jersey more affordable.”

 

“During another summer of record-breaking temperatures, the NJBPU remains committed to ensuring those struggling to make utility bill payments have the help they need,” said New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) President Christine Guhl-Sadovy. “Through this one-time bill credit, the NJBPU is returning unspent clean energy funds to ratepayers who shoulder a disproportionately high energy burden."

 

“The Residential Energy Assistance Payment (REAP) initiative is a vital lifeline for our residents struggling with rising utility costs,” said City of Perth Amboy Mayor Helmin J. Caba. “By providing a $175 credit, this program delivers immediate relief, helping families keep essential services running. It clearly demonstrates the state’s strong commitment to those in need and a powerful example of what we can achieve when we work together to support our communities.”

 

“I am honored to join President Guhl-Sadovy, Speaker Coughlin, Assemblywoman Lopez, and Mayor Caba for this exciting presentation, which clearly echoes Governor Murphy’s commitment to help overburdened New Jersey families,” said Cheryl B. Stowell, CEO, New Jersey SHARES. “Given the economic hardships that the people of New Jersey are facing we are grateful to the administration for providing these much-needed funds. The REAP funds are coming just in time to help struggling utility customers in the final quarter of 2024.”

 

“Paying the rent or mortgage, putting food on the table, or keeping the lights on are necessities too many households have to choose between because they simply do not have the financial resources to afford the most basic needs. Rising energy costs have been particularly hard for low-income families who tend to live in older homes and are disproportionately paying more for heating and cooling,” said Kelvin Boddy, director of healthy homes and communities, Housing and Community Development Network of NJ. “Housing is a human right, and we should not have to pick whether we provide our families with safe shelter or feed them. We thank Governor Murphy and the Administration for delivering this much needed relief for the many New Jerseyans struggling to make ends meet.”

 

“Low-wealth communities have historically borne the burden of polluting energy while also paying a higher percentage of their income to energy bills. New Jersey is on the right track with its efforts to both reduce pollution and alleviate the pressure of high energy bills on low-income households,” said Melissa Miles, Executive Director, New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance.

 

“It is fitting that surplus clean energy program funds will be used as a direct credit on the bills of thousands of families most in need in New Jersey. We support the Murphy administration's efforts to make locally produced renewable energy and energy efficiency key priorities while addressing energy affordability in light of rising residential costs. New Jersey families overwhelmingly want healthy alternatives to fossil fuels to heat and cool their homes. Initiatives such as the Residential Energy Assistance Payment can help provide a buffer to rising heating and cooling costs as we make the shift to clean energy,” said Nicole Miller, Principal, MnM Consulting and Vice-Chair, New Jersey Progressive Equitable Energy Coalition (NJPEEC).

 

“We are pleased that Governor Murphy and the BPU are lowering energy costs for New Jersey's working families," said Ed Potosnak, Executive Director of the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters. “This plan will put more money in families' pockets — even as we pursue plans to lower energy costs in the long term by switching to clean, renewable energy sources. We look forward to working with the administration to advance an equitable clean energy agenda that puts the economic security of New Jersey families at the forefront.”

 

In April, the NJBPU approved the Fiscal Year 2024 Clean Energy Program true-up budget and committed nearly $22 million in carryover Arrearage Relief Funding (ARF) as well as an additional $30 million in Clean Energy Program funds to the REAP initiative for a total of more than $51 million.

 

Households deemed eligible for the 2023-2024 Winter Termination Program (WTP) based on electric and gas utility enrollment data are also automatically eligible for REAP. The 2023-2024 WTP was in effect between November 15, 2023, and March 15, 2024.

 

Customers must call their utility company each winter to request enrollment in WTP. Utility companies are directed to use the WTP eligibility criteria described below:

 

1. Recipients of benefits under the Lifeline Credit Program;
2. Recipients of benefits under the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP);
3. Recipients of Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF);
4. Recipients of Federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI);
5. Recipients of Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled (PAAD);
6. Recipients of General Assistance (GA) benefits;
7. Recipients of Universal Service Fund (USF) assistance; or
8. Persons unable to pay their utility bills because of circumstances beyond their control which shall include, but not be limited to unemployment, illness, medically related expenses, recent death of an immediate family member, and any other circumstances that might cause financial hardship.

 

Eligible households receiving utility service from separate gas and electric public utilities will see the one-time REAP credit applied to either their gas or electric utility bill, but not both.

 

For more information regarding REAP eligibility criteria, click here. Residents should contact their electric or gas utilities for more information regarding receipt of this one-time bill credit.

 

Media Contact: Tracy Munford at (609) 940-1099; tracy.munford@bpu.nj.gov   

 

 

About New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program (NJCEP)

NJCEP, established on January 22, 2003, in accordance with the Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act (EDECA), provides financial and other incentives to the State's residential customers, businesses and schools that install high-efficiency or renewable energy technologies, thereby reducing energy usage, lowering customers' energy bills and reducing environmental impacts. The program is authorized and overseen by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU), and its website is www.NJCleanEnergy.com.

 

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.