The Hidden Crisis: Energy Burden on New Jersey Families

In 2024, New Jersey's energy assistance programs distributed approximately $295 million to over 455,000 families.¹ That sounds like progress. But behind that number is a harder truth: the vast majority of families who need help never receive it.

Nationally, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) reaches only about 20% of eligible households.² In New Jersey, that gap means hundreds of thousands of families are making impossible choices every month: pay the electric bill or buy groceries. Keep the heat on or fill a prescription.

What Energy Burden Really Looks Like

The federal government considers a household "energy burdened" when energy costs exceed 6% of gross income. For low-income families in New Jersey, that number often exceeds 10% — more than three times the national median of 3%.³

This isn't an abstract statistic. It means a single mother in Freehold working full time at $17 an hour could spend $200 or more each month on gas and electric bills during winter. That's the difference between stability and crisis.

A January 2026 analysis in NJBIZ found that energy affordability was a defining issue in the recent gubernatorial race, with more than half of NJ voters identifying energy costs as one of their top financial pressures.⁴

The Programs That Exist — and the Gaps They Leave

New Jersey has one of the most comprehensive networks of energy assistance programs in the country. According to NJ 211, eligible families can access:⁵

LIHEAP — one-time heating and cooling assistance for households earning below 60% of state median income. Applications are accepted October 1 through June 30.⁶

Universal Service Fund (USF) — monthly credits on gas and electric bills for qualifying households. A family of three earning under $80,778 may be eligible.

PAGE — annual assistance for low-to-moderate income residents with past-due utility bills.

NJ Shares — energy assistance for middle-income households who don't qualify for LIHEAP or USF, with grants up to $700.

Weatherization Assistance — free energy-efficiency improvements that reduce heat loss and consumption.

Yet the NJ Board of Public Utilities' own March 2025 assessment found significant gaps: while existing programs effectively reduce energy burden for participants, New Jersey has "opportunities to advance its programs and enhance its rate offerings to support a broader base of customers."¹ The Board specifically recommended developing new programs for moderate-income customers and increasing the USF discount cap.

What This Means for Our Community

In Monmouth County, families can apply for LIHEAP through the Division of Social Services.⁷ But awareness is the first barrier. Many families who qualify don't know these programs exist, don't know how to apply, or face enrollment obstacles that leave them without help when they need it most.

That's where local action matters. Love of Humanity's Climate Energy Relief program was designed to fill exactly these gaps — providing direct assistance to families in Freehold and across Monmouth County who fall through the cracks of state and federal programs.

The families we serve face compounding challenges:

They may earn slightly too much for LIHEAP but nowhere near enough to cover winter bills. They may not speak English as a first language and struggle to navigate complex applications. They may be elderly or disabled and unable to visit intake agencies in person. For each of these families, the gap between what exists and what they need is measured in cold nights, disconnection notices, and impossible choices.

What You Can Do Today

If you or someone you know needs help with utility bills, call NJ 211 (dial 2-1-1) or 1-800-510-3102 to learn about available programs. The LIHEAP application period runs through June 30, 2026.

If you're a donor or stakeholder, consider what $35 a month means in concrete terms: one less disconnection notice, one less family choosing between warmth and food. Our Keep the Lights On campaign provides direct relief while we work on systemic solutions through grant-funded programs.

If you're a community partner, help us spread the word. Share this report. Connect us with families in need. Every referral is a bridge between someone struggling and the help that's available.