New Jersey — winter shutoff moratorium for electric, gas, water and sewer service

For New Jersey, citation is Winter Termination Program (WTP); moratorium window is November 15, 2025, through March 15, 2026; covered utilities is electric, gas, water, and sewer services; eligibility / income test is recipients of any of the following assistance programs: Federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) Federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled (PAAD) General Assistance (GA) benefits Universal Service Fund (USF) Lifeline Credit Program, verified against its source on 2026-08-19.

What the source says

Running from November 15, 2025, through March 15, 2026, the program prevents disconnecting electric, gas, water, and sewer services for qualifying residential customers, ensuring that vulnerable customers facing financial hardship maintain access to heat, power, and water throughout the winter season. "For more than two decades, the Winter Termination Program has been a critical safety net for New Jersey families during the most challenging months of the year," said NJBPU President Christine Guhl-Sadovy. "This program reflects our commitment to ensuring that no New Jerseyan has to choose between paying their utility bills and meeting other essential needs during the winter months. We encourage all eligible residents to contact their utility providers today to secure this vital protection." Since its formal establishment for electric and gas utilities in 2008—building on earlier protections dating back to at least 2003—the Winter Termination Program has provided critical assistance to hundreds of thousands of New Jersey households. During the 2024-2025 winter approximately 283,738 gas, electric, sewer and water customers were protected under WTP. In 2021, the program was significantly expanded when Governor Phil Murphy formally extended WTP shutoff protections to residential water and sewer customers under the NJBPU’s jurisdiction and created WTPs for electric, water and sewer customers under the NJDCA’s jurisdiction, creating a comprehensive, statewide approach to prevent all essential utility disconnections during winter months. New Jersey Among States Leading Winter Utility Protection Efforts New Jersey is part of a growing number of states that recognize the critical importance of preventing utility shutoffs during cold weather months. Similar seasonal protection programs exist across the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Midwest regions, reflecting a nationwide commitment to protecting vulnerable populations from losing heat and essential services during winter. "New Jersey's Winter Termination Program stands as a model among state utility protection initiatives," added President Guhl-Sadovy. "While each state tailors its program to local conditions and needs, we all share the same fundamental goal: ensuring that no family loses access to heat, power, or water during the winter months. New Jersey's comprehensive approach—covering electric, gas, water, and sewer services—represents one of the most expansive protections in the nation." "We are here to help New Jersey families navigate these challenging times,” said NJDCA Commissioner Jacquelyn A. Suarez. “Whether through the Winter Termination Program, LIHEAP, or our other assistance programs, we have resources available to ensure that residents can keep their homes warm and their utilities this winter,” she said. Who Is Eligible? New Jersey residents may qualify for the Winter Termination Program if they are recipients of any of the following assistance programs: Federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) Federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled (PAAD) General Assistance (GA) benefits Universal Service Fund (USF) Lifeline Credit Program

— nj.gov, retrieved 2026-08-19

Source

• nj.govhttps://www.nj.gov/bpu/newsroom/2025/approved/20251114.html

Last verified against source: 2026-08-19. Due for re-check by 2027-02-15. This page as Markdown · OKF bundle · full dataset as JSON.