Under this program a tenant whose electric and/or gas service has been discontinued for non-payment and
that service has not been reconnected as of November 15, may make a down payment, with the utility, not
to exceed 25 percent of the outstanding balance, and enroll in a budget payment plan to have the utility
service(s) restored.
FILING A COMPLAINT IF A UTILITY DOES NOT GIVE TENANT PROPER NOTICE
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) enforces regulations pertaining to utility companies,
including enforcement of the Winter Termination Program. If you would like to file a complaint regarding
the discontinuance of utilities to your residents, you should contact the BPU at 2 Gateway Center, Newark,
NJ 07102, phone number (201) 648-2350 or 44 South Clinton Avenue, P.O. Box 350, Trenton, N.J. 08625,
phone number (609) 777-3300 or call 1 (800) 624-0241.
THE LANDLORD IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING UTILITIES & FAILS TO DO SO
Under the New Jersey Eviction Law, a tenant may not be evicted for nonpayment of rent, if the tenant used
the unpaid portion of rent to continue utility services to the rental premises after receiving notice that the
services were in danger of being discontinued, and if the landlord was responsible for the payment of those
utility services and did not make the payments required to retain the use of those services. These utilities
include: electric, gas, water and sewer.