Governor Phil Murphy yesterday signed a bill extending the utility shutoff grace period from December 31, 2021, to March 15, 2022, for all water, municipal electric, and sewer customers.

The legislation also extends provisions requiring all utilities to offer a 12-month, no down payment, interest-free payment plan to customers prior to disconnecting service or imposing liens for non-payment since the beginning of the Covid-19 public health emergency.

The legislation also requires the Department of Community Affairs to establish a Winter Termination Program for customers of water, sewer, and electric municipal utilities and local authorities, and requires the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to include water and sewer public utilities in its existing Winter Termination Program.

These programs, which will take effect for the 2022-2023 winter season, will protect customers who are eligible for certain public assistance programs or are unable to pay their bills due circumstances beyond their control from utility disconnections between November 15 and March 15.