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UAD to Connect Residents to Cost-Saving Programs

TRENTON - The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) will host the Union County Utility Assistance Day (UAD) on Thursday, December 4, in partnership with Union County and the City of Plainfield. The event will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Banc on Parq, 202 Park Ave, Plainfield, NJ 07060. 

“We encourage everyone who needs or thinks they may need energy bill assistance this winter to please join us in Plainfield to meet with our customer assistance team and on-site community partners,” said NJBPU President Christine Guhl-Sadovy. “We hold Utility Assistance Day events all over the state to connect people with information on how to bring down energy costs. There are many energy bill assistance programs available to New Jersey ratepayers and our priority is to make sure the people who need them can find them.”

UADs have proven to be highly effective in helping connect residents with social services and assistance programs offered by State and utility providers. The Union County UAD is the latest in a series of successful UADs. More than 9,800 residents have attended a UAD, including recently in Asbury Park, Passaic, Ewing, Cliffside Park, Linden, Burlington City, Phillipsburg, and Bridgeton. 

"I encourage all residents of the 20th Legislative District to join us in Plainfield for the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities’ Union County Utility Assistance Day,” said Senator Joseph P. Cryan. “This event is an important opportunity for individuals and families to connect directly with experts who can help them navigate available utility assistance programs."

“With utility costs continuing to strain household budgets, this event could not come at a better time,” said  Assemblywoman Michele Matsikoudis. “I appreciate the BPU’s efforts to connect Union County residents with real, practical assistance that can make a meaningful difference. Ensuring families can keep the lights and heat on is a responsibility we all share.”

“I’m proud to support the NJBPU’s ongoing efforts to bring real, practical help to our communities,” said Assemblywoman Linda S. Carter. “This Utility Assistance Day provides residents with direct access to programs that can make an immediate difference in their daily lives.”

“Even amid federal uncertainty, New Jersey is steadfast in its commitment to helping families make ends meet,” said New Jersey Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Jacquelyn A. Suárez. “Utility costs continue to put pressure on households in Union County and throughout our state, but residents should know that real help through programs like the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program and the Universal Service Fund is available. I encourage Plainfield residents to take advantage of these resources and get the support they need to stay safe, warm, and connected.”

“This is a wonderful opportunity for Union 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 Commissioner Sarah Adelman. “I encourage residents concerned about higher utility bills to attend this informative event to learn what assistance may be available.”

Participating organizations are Proceed, Inc., Catholic Charities, NJ Shares, PSE&G, Elizabethtown Gas, the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, the New Jersey Department of Human Services, NJ211, and the New Jersey Clean Energy Program.

To determine eligibility for utility assistance on-site, residents attending the Union County UAD in Plainfield 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  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.

NJBPU Division of Customer Assistance: (800)-624-0241

New Jersey Board of Public Utilities

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