Need help with those energy bills?

Sussex County — Sussex County’s traditionally cold winters, combined with the cost of heating fuel, can put a strain on many household budgets. The State of New Jersey has recently made $1.3 million available to help residents struggling to pay gas and electric bills this winter. NJ SHARES, (New Jersey Statewide Heating Assistance and Referral for Energy Services) is a non-profit organization that assists New Jersey residents who have fallen behind on their utility bills due to a temporary financial crisis. Applicants must not be eligible for other types of public assistance and must demonstrate a need and a good-faith payment history to their energy providers. For more information on the program, call 1-866-NJSHARES or visit www.njshares.org. Additional energy assistance programs are available to assist elderly, handicapped and low-income households who are struggling to pay their utility bills. Two important utility assistance programs available to eligible households are the Universal Service Fund and the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. The former is a program created by the State of New Jersey to help make energy bills more affordable for low-income customers. If you are eligible, USF can lower payment amounts for gas and electric bills. The latter is a program that helps pay for home heating costs. You may qualify even if heat is included in the rent. The Sussex County Division of Social Services has some limited funds that are supplementary to LIHEAP and USF. This funding includes temporary financial relief for clients who have no heat in their homes and funding to help purchase deliverable fuels such as oil and propane gas. For more information about these programs, call the Northwest New Jersey Community Action Program, Sussex Office, at 973-209-7549, or contact the Sussex County Division of Social Services at 973-383-3600. Application deadlines may apply. Lastly, Sussex County seniors struggling to pay their utility bill can call PEOPLE HELP for assistance. This new program provides emergency financial assistance for low and moderate income seniors who need help with their utilities, housing or heating bills. If you need this type of assistance, call PEOPLE HELP at 973-729-1745 to find out if you are eligible.