The Clock Starts Now: 283,000 NJ Families Lose Shutoff Protection Today

Today, March 15, New Jersey's Winter Termination Program officially expires. For the past four months, 283,738 gas, electric, water, and sewer customers across the state were protected from having their utility services disconnected.¹ As of this morning, that protection is gone.

The bills didn't disappear. They accumulated. And for tens of thousands of families across New Jersey — including right here in Monmouth County — the next few weeks will bring a reckoning: pay down months of arrears, negotiate a payment plan, or face disconnection.

What the Winter Termination Program Actually Does

Since 2003, New Jersey has prohibited utilities from disconnecting service during the coldest months for residents who qualify through financial hardship or enrollment in assistance programs such as LIHEAP, TANF, SSI, or the Universal Service Fund.¹ In 2021, the program expanded to cover water and sewer services statewide.

The program works. During the four months from November 15 through March 15, no qualifying family loses heat, electricity, or water regardless of their ability to pay. But it comes with a critical caveat that most families don't fully understand until spring arrives: customers remain responsible for their accumulated utility bills.

The NJBPU itself warns participants to "make good-faith payments based on their ability to pay throughout the winter to avoid large overdue balances when the protection period ends."¹ But for a family already choosing between groceries and the gas bill, "good-faith payments" are a luxury they simply cannot afford.

The Federal Safety Net Is Fraying

This spring's shutoff cliff arrives amid an unprecedented threat to the federal programs that normally help families dig out. The Trump Administration proposed eliminating LIHEAP entirely from the FY2026 budget — a program that provided $4.1 billion to states in fiscal 2025.²

Congress ultimately secured $4.045 billion in LIHEAP funding for FY2026 — a $20 million increase over the prior year.³ But the money is only part of the story. On April 1, 2025, the entire LIHEAP program staff at the Department of Health and Human Services was fired. As of February 2026, only four people at the federal level are managing a program that serves six million households nationwide.³

Energy advocates warn this skeleton crew will cause delays in disbursing funds to states, meaning some families may wait longer than usual for the assistance they desperately need.² And residential energy prices are expected to continue rising through 2026, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Bright Spots: New Jersey Fights Back

New Jersey hasn't been standing still. The state has assembled one of the most comprehensive utility assistance frameworks in the country, and several new measures are working to close the gap:

The Summer Termination Program. Signed into law in September 2025, this new program mirrors the Winter Termination Program for the hottest months, prohibiting electric, water, and sewer disconnections for qualifying customers from June 15 through August 31.⁴ This is a critical step — extreme heat kills more Americans each year than any other weather event, and air conditioning is a medical necessity for vulnerable populations.

REAP Bill Credits. The Residential Energy Assistance Payment program provides seven monthly $25 credits automatically applied to qualifying households' electric bills, delivering $175 in direct relief starting summer 2025.⁵ Last year's initial REAP program also provided a one-time $175 credit.

A New Utility Assistance Pilot. In February 2026, the NJ Department of Health launched a pilot providing 1,250 WIC-enrolled families — primarily in Camden County — with one-time $200 utility grants, funded by the American Water Charitable Foundation.⁶ It's a model for what targeted, public-private utility assistance can look like.

The USF Fresh Start Program. Eligible Universal Service Fund customers with overdue balances of $60 or more can have their arrears forgiven entirely by paying current bills on time. It's available once every five years and could provide a lifeline for families emerging from winter with crushing back-balances.⁵

What This Means for Our Community

In Monmouth County, eligible residents can apply for LIHEAP through the Division of Social Services, and the application season runs through June 30 or until funds are exhausted.⁷ The Affordable Housing Alliance's CAP Utility Assistance Program specifically helps Monmouth County residents with past-due electric, gas, water, and sewer bills.⁸

But here's what the programs can't capture: the stress of a family in Freehold opening their mailbox this week to find a disconnection notice after four months of deferred bills. The parent who has to explain to their children why the hot water isn't working. The elderly resident on a fixed income who didn't know the Fresh Start program existed.

Love of Humanity's Climate Energy Relief program exists to bridge exactly these gaps — providing direct utility assistance to families in Monmouth County who fall between the cracks of state and federal programs, and connecting them with the resources they may not know they qualify for.

How You Can Help

If you or someone you know needs help with utility bills, apply for LIHEAP and USF now through the DCAid portal at www.nj.gov/dca/dcaid or by calling 1-800-510-3102. Ask your utility company about the Fresh Start program. The application window is open through June 30 — don't wait until a shutoff notice arrives.

If you're a donor or stakeholder, the next eight weeks are the most critical period of the year for energy-insecure families. Winter protection has ended, summer protection doesn't begin until June 15, and spring bills are coming due. This is the window where your support has the most direct impact.

If you're a community partner, help spread the word. Many families don't know about Fresh Start, REAP credits, or the CAP program. A single referral can change the trajectory of a family's spring. Share this report, post it to community boards, or forward it to your faith community.