| New Jersey SHARES Distributes More Than Eight Million Dollars To Assist The Needy With Their Energy Bills
Hightstown, NJ — February 6, 2002 —
New Jersey Statewide Heating Assistance and Referral for Energy Services
(New Jersey SHARES) has assisted more individuals and families in 2001
than it has in all of its three previous years of operation. More than
25,000 families received New Jersey SHARES grants totaling more than $8.2
million in 2001. In the previous three years, 1998 to 2000, a total of
$1.83 million aided approximately 8000 families.
This year, New Jersey SHARES has been able to assist a greater number
of families thanks to legislation that was signed by former Governors
Whitman and DiFrancesco. This legislation, approved unanimously by all
then members of the New Jersey Senate and Assembly, provided New Jersey
SHARES with a annual percentage of unclaimed utility deposits plus one-time
proceeds from excess natural gas sales taxes in the year 2001 state fiscal
year. Both funds were administered at the state level by the Board of
Public Utilities. These legislated funds also supplemented an increase
in contributions made by utility customers and matched by their utilities.
"We have had some great accomplishments this past year, which enabled
us to help more New Jersey residents who are struggling to pay their natural
gas and electric bills," said Lawrence Savitsky, NJ SHARES' Executive
Director.
New Jersey SHARES assists those people who do not otherwise qualify for
utility bill payment assistance through traditional programs. Since there
are no income guidelines for New Jersey SHARES, each benefit is determined
by a local community based organization. New Jersey SHARES grants are
distributed through 50 community based organizations serving all of New
Jersey. New Jersey SHARES operates year round to meet New Jersey's community's
needs.
New Jersey Statewide Heating Assistance and Referral for Energy Services
is a statewide, non-profit fuel fund for individuals and families who
need temporary help paying their electric and natural gas bills. The New
Jersey SHARES Board consists of New Jersey's seven natural gas and electric
utilities (Conectiv, NUI Elizabethtown Gas, GPU Energy, New Jersey Natural
Gas, Rockland Electric, South Jersey Gas and Public Service Electric and
Gas). Verizon, Michael Swayze of Montclair, and six non-profit agencies
including AARP, the Salvation Army, Association for Children of New Jersey,
New Jersey Community Action Agencies, Catholic Charities and the Community
Health Law Project.
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