New Jersey's Winter Termination Program
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities maintains a written policy known as the Winter Termination Program (WTP) by which regulated electric or gas utility companies cannot discontinue service to certain households during the period of November 15 through March 15. A residential customer that receives any of the public benefits named below cannot have service discontinued as long as they make good faith payments if you have the ability to do so. Customers protected by the Winter Termination Program should contact the Board's Division of Customer Assistance at 800-624-0241 for details of their rights and responsibilities. The protected categories are:
Lifeline Credit Program;
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP);
Work First New Jersey/Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF);
Supplemental Security Income (SSI);
Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled (PAAD);
Work First New Jersey/General Assistance (GA);
Universal Service Fund (USF); and
Persons unable to pay their utility bills because of circumstances beyond their control including unemployment, illness, medically related
expenses, recent death of a spouse and any other circumstances which might cause financial hardship.
