SELECT Americans could get costs instantly cut from their utility bills this summer.
The payment reduction comes from a unique program that offers financial assistance to low-income households.
Thanks to the Residential Energy Assistance Payment (REAP), certain New Jersey residents can save some money.
REAP was initially launched in 2024, and is undergoing a second round as part of efforts from Governor Phil Murphy (D).
Qualifying participants can get seven $25 credits “automatically applied to their utility bill” this summer, per a page on the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities website.
This adds up to a total of $175, similar to the one-time distribution offered to those who got REAP last year, just spread out now.
ELIGIBILITY
There is no application process for the $175 utility credit through REAP.
Utility companies in the Garden State already determined eligible households and started applying the first $25 credit as of August 1.
REAP eligibility was determined by the companies through enrollment data already collected on households who qualified for the Winter Termination Program (WTP) between November 15, 2024, and March 15, 2025.
The WTP protects select residents from having their utilities shut off during the winter if they’re unable to pay.
Those who qualified for REAP and WTP would’ve already been getting benefits through the Lifeline Credit Program, Federal Home Energy Assistance Program, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, and several other initiatives.
They would’ve also been unable to pay due to “circumstances beyond their control,” including illness, unemployment, or others.
A full list of the criteria can be found on the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities website.
Residents with additional questions are advised to contact their utility company.
PAY UP
Similar discounts aren’t available nationwide, however, and electricity prices have spiked by as much as 4.5% for Americans in the past year, per CNBC.
Some households in other states are facing staggering price hikes on specific utilities, like water.
Air conditioner tips to keep you cool this summer
Here are some tips to get your air conditioner to pay off without exactly making you pay more, per Apartment Therapy:
- Move electronics away from your thermostat as they may confuse it and make it think the room is hotter than it is
- Keep your A/C unit shaded
- Make sure to clean your A/C filter
- Leave your thermostat be
- Try not to move your vents too much
- Check your airducts
- Use your fan
In Texas, residents of New Braunfels, about 34 miles northeast of San Antonio, are paying at least 9.9% more for water this year, per the San Antonio Express-News.
Customers using about 3,000 gallons of water each month will have monthly costs increased, on average, from $22.50 to $24.73, and then $27.18 in 2026.
For 6,000 gallons rates will go from $38.10 to $41.87 and then $46.02.
COSTS CLIMB
Overall, energy bills have skyrocketed for the summer, averaging around $784 between June to September, according to a recent report from the National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA).
That’s a 6.2% uptick from 2024, or about 4.3% considering inflation.
NEADA cited the price of electricity outpacing inflation and climate change as factors for the increase.
Some of the highest energy bill averages are in states like Arkansas, Lousiana, Oklahoma, and Texas at $996.
Still, there’s a simple switch Americans can make for savings of about 30% on energy bills every year.
A “vampire solution” can also cut $200 off the cost this summer, and an expert’s tip offers at least four little-known benefits.
