PAYMENT ASSISTANCE
Sussex Rural Electric Cooperative wants to work with its members who have been struggling to pay their bills. Please contact our Member Services team to set up a payment arrangement that will allow you to pay off any past due amounts over time as you resume paying your regular monthly bill.
Start Here:
Contact Sussex REC to set up a Special Arrangement. This ______ Arrangement is available to all members, regardless of past payment history. Our Member Services center is available from 8 am until 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday, at 973-875-5101.
Find information on outside utility assistance programs below. When you're struggling to keep up with your bills, you should apply for these programs as soon as possible AND notify Sussex REC if you have applied for assistance.
Apply for Assistance
Apply for Assistance
For help through the Co-op's payment assistance programs, please contact our office during business hours. A member of our Member Services or Billing team will take your information and determine how we can best assist you.
Help exists outside of the Co-op as well. Sussex REC members may be eligible for the following programs:
- New Jersey 211 - This free information and referral service connects people with resources that are best suited to meet their specific needs. To receive help, simply use your phone to dial 2-1-1, or text your ZIP code to 898-211.
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program - Sussex REC members may qualify for this assistance program, based on income levels. Local organizations NORWESCAP and Family Promise of Sussex County specialize in connecting members of the community to this resource.
- Lifeline - This state-run program can help qualifying disabled and senior citizens pay their electric bills. Recipients must reapply each year. Visit their website or call the Lifeline hotline at 1-800-792-9745.
Local Assistance Resources
Local Assistance Resources
Local organizations NORWESCAP and Family Promise of Sussex County specialize in helping connect members of the community with utility assistance through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
If you are eligible, complete an application and submit it to one of these agencies. You can submit your application using one of the following methods:
- To submit your application in person, visit NORWESCAP at 37 Main Street, Sussex, NJ 07461
- NORWESCAP staff can assist you in filling our your application. They accept walk-ins at their Sussex office Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 10 am - 3 pm. Call 973-862-6680 to make an appointment outside of these hours.
- To submit an application by email, send it to housing@norwescap.org
- To submit an application by mail, send it to: ATTN: Housing, 350 Marshall Street, Phillipsburg, NJ 08865
- To call for more information on other options, dial 973-862-6680
Family Promise of Sussex County
- To submit your application in person, visit Family Promise of Sussex County at 19 Church Street, Newton, NJ 07860 or their location at the Sussex United Methodist Church at 15 Bank Street, Sussex, NJ 07461.
- To submit your application by email, send it to utilities@familypromisesussex.org
- To call for more information on other options, dial 973-579-1180
For more information about this program, visit the NJ Department of Community Affairs' website.
Important Notes for SREC members participating in LIHEAP:
-
You are subject to being disconnected even during the Winter Moratorium.
-
You must reapply every year. The current application period opens October 1st, 2025 and will remain open until June 30th, 2026.
-
You must notify Sussex Rural Electric Cooperative that you have been accepted in the program. They do not inform us directly.
-
Required documentation is extensive and applications are not accepted without all the items. Be sure you have everything before going to apply.
-
If you received LIHEAP/USF last year, you are eligible to apply for the program through a process called recertification. The application for those eligible for this process is automatically started within the system. Applicants using the recertification process will be contacted by mail and asked to supply less documentation.
Ways to Save Energy
Ways to Save Energy
Small changes in your energy habits can have a meaningful impact on your kWh usage, resulting in a lower monthly electric bill. You can use some of the easy suggestions below to get started:
- Use LED light bulbs, which are more efficient and long lasting than other types of bulb.
- Be sure to turn off lights and ceiling fans when you are not in the room.
- Laundry and dishes can be done with cold water to avoid spending energy on heating water.
- Some devices are "energy vampires," and draw electric load even when not in use. To avoid this, items like televisions, phone chargers, and laptop chargers can be unplugged when not in use.
- Use energy efficient appliances to maximize energy efficiency. ENERGY STAR certified appliances are more efficient than other models. If you are shopping for a new clothes washer, clothes dryer, or refrigerator, consider getting an ENERGY STAR model that qualifies for our Appliance Rebate program to receive a $50 bill credit for each appliance.
- Run your thermostat as close to the outdoor temperature as possible to stop your heating and cooling system from working harder than it needs to.
To find more ideas on how to save energy, visit our Ways to Save page.
Enrollment in our Beat the Peak program also offers incentives to members for enrolling their electric water heaters or air conditioners in load control. Enroll your water heater for a $100 bill credit, plus $2 per month, or your air conditioner for a $50 bill credit, plus $5 per month during the summer months of June - August.
New Jersey 211 is a free information and referral service that connects people with resources that are best suited to meet their specific needs. The 211 service is available nationwide and works on a state level to provide struggling individuals and families with a database of over 10,000 local programs and services that cover needs like housing, utility assistance, employment, and more.
NJ 211 is open 24/7, 365 days a year. It is a confidential, multilingual, and absolutely free longstanding service which is a great resource for Sussex Rural Electric Cooperative members in need of aid.
To receive help from NJ 211, simply use your phone to dial 2-1-1, or text your ZIP code to 898-211. You can also visit their website at www.nj211.org to find more information on how they can help you.
Applications for 2025's LIHEAP program will close on June 30th, 2025. Find information on eligibility and how to apply below.
Sussex Rural Electric Cooperative members in need of energy assistance may be eligible to participate in the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, also known as LIHEAP, HEAP, or HEA. This program is offered in Sussex County through NORWESCAP or Family Promise of Sussex County.
The Home Energy Assistance Program is a federally funded grant program designed to assist low-income New Jersey residents in paying their winter heating bills and summer cooling bills under certain circumstances. You can find a current fact sheet on the program here.
You can determine if your household is eligible for this program using the chart below:
If you are eligible, complete an application and submit it to your local application agency, which for Sussex County residents is either NORWESCAP or Family Promise of Sussex County. You can submit your application using one of the following methods:
- To submit your application in person, visit NORWESCAP at 37 Main Street, Sussex, NJ 07461
- NORWESCAP staff can assist you in filling our your application. They accept walk-ins at their Sussex office Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 10 am - 3 pm. Call 973-862-6680 to make an appointment outside of these hours.
- To submit an application by email, send it to housing@norwescap.org
- To submit an application by mail, send it to: ATTN: Housing, 350 Marshall Street, Phillipsburg, NJ 08865
- To call for more information on other options, dial 973-862-6680
Family Promise of Sussex County
- To submit your application in person, visit Family Promise of Sussex County at 19 Church Street, Newton, NJ 07860 or their location at the Sussex United Methodist Church at 15 Bank Street, Sussex, NJ 07461.
- To submit your application by email, send it to utilities@familypromisesussex.org
- To call for more information on other options, dial 973-579-1180
For more information about this program, visit the NJ Department of Community Affairs' website.
Important Notes for SREC members participating in LIHEAP:
-
You are subject to being disconnected even during the Winter Moratorium.
-
You must reapply every year. The current application period began on October 1st, 2024 and will remain open until June 30th, 2025.
-
You must notify Sussex Rural Electric Cooperative that you have been accepted in the program. They do not inform us directly.
-
Required documentation is extensive and applications are not accepted without all the items. Be sure you have everything before going to apply.
-
If you received LIHEAP/USF last year, you are eligible to apply for the program through a process called recertification. The application for those eligible for this process is automatically started within the system. Applicants using the recertification process will be contacted by mail and asked to supply less documentation.
Lifeline is a utility assistance program that aims to provide funding for qualifying disabled and senior citizens who need assistance in paying their utility bills. Recipients must reapply annually to continue to receive their $225 annual benefit. The program's Special Utility Supplement can also provide up to $18.75 monthly to SSI recipients.
In order to qualify for Lifeline, beneficiaries must be a recipient of Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled (PAAD) or meet PAAD eligibility requirements, or be a recipient of either Medical Assistance to the Aged (MAA), Medical Assistance Only (MAO), or New Jersey Care. To be eligible for PAAD, you must be a New Jersey resident who is 65 or older (or between 18 and 64 and receiving Social Security Disability) and have an income that is less than $52,142 (single household) or less than $459,209 (married).
Click here for more information, or call the Lifeline hotline at 1-800-792-9745.
Social Services in New Jersey may be aware of additional resources and programs. For assistance in Sussex County, call them at 973-383-3600 or visit their website.
If you are struggling and any of these options seem like something that would help you, please do not hesitate to reach out. Call our office at 973-875-5101 and ask for more details. We will let you know if you are eligible to enroll.