NEWARK, N.J., June 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- PSE&G wants customers to know that a new TRUE grant, as well as several other payment assistance programs, are available to help customers pay utility bills.

The Temporarily Relief for Utility Expenses (TRUE) Program, approved by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities earlier this year, is a one-time benefit for New Jersey residents struggling to pay electric and natural gas bills who are not eligible for low income programs. The maximum grant is $750 for electric and $750 for gas service.

To be eligible for TRUE, customers must meet income and eligibility requirements:

• Must have annual income for a two-person household of at least $29,160 and not more than $69,853.  For a household of four, an income between $44,112 and $103,034.  Income caps for other size households are listed on www.pseg.com/true_guidelines
• Be 45 or more days past due on their bill and/or have received a service discontinuation notice.
• Demonstrate that four payments of at least $25 each have been made on their utility account within the past six months, at least three of which  were made 30 days prior to applying for the TRUE grant.  
• Been ineligible for or have not received LIHEAP or USF benefits in the last year.

Contact information for the TRUE grant, as well as for additional assistance programs that take applications year round, is listed below:

TRUE Grant  855-465-8783

Helps customers not eligible for low income programs with up to $1500 toward their PSE&G bill.

The Universal Service Fund (USF)  800-510-3102

Helps make low income customer bills more affordable with a $5 to $150 monthly credit

NJ SHARES  866-NJ SHARES (657-4273)  www.njshares.org

Helps moderate income customers not eligible for low income programs with up to $300 toward electric bills and $700 toward natural gas heating bills.

NJ Lifeline  800-792-9745

Helps income eligible seniors and disabled adults with an annual utility credit of $225.

Salvation Army Red Shield  888-302-6100

Helps military personnel and their families with utility bills.

Applications are available at all PSE&G Customer Service Centers for the TRUE  grant, USF, and NJ Lifeline. Addresses are listed on PSE&G customer bills.

Information is available in English and Spanish on PSE&G's Web site at: www.pseg.com/help or www.pseg.com/ayuda. From the Web site customers may link to program information and in the case of the TRUE Grant can apply online.  

Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) is New Jersey's oldest and largest regulated gas and electric delivery utility, serving nearly three-quarters of the state's population.  PSE&G is the winner of the ReliabilityOne Award for superior electric system reliability.  PSE&G is a subsidiary of Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated (PSEG) PEG, a diversified energy company (www.pseg.com).

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Contact for customers & others  800 436 7734

SOURCE Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G)