CHIVUKULA LEGISLATION TO HELP 23,000 N.J. HH KEEP LIGHTS ON, JACOB WELCOMES HIGHEST-EVER FUNDING TO NJ SHARES LIFE-SUSTAINING MEASURE WOULD ASSURE $25 MILLION OF SOCIETAL BENEFITS CHARGE GO TO ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS (TRENTON) A committee substitute of legislation sponsored by Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities chairman Upendra J. Chivukula would help 23,000 N.J. households keep their lights on and pay for basic heat and hot water.The substitute of the measure (A-616) would assure that $25 million of the funds generated from the Societal Benefits Charge (SBC) billed to residential and business ratepayers by utilities would be dedicated to helping qualified households pay their energy bills."It is unacceptable that over 15,000 families in need of financial assistance to help pay their basic utility bills were turned away last year," Chivukula (D-Somerset) said. "This measure would ensure ongoing and sustained funding to help individuals and families weather the economic storm."The funds would be routed through non-profits designated by the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) such as NJ SHARES (New Jersey Statewide Heating Assistance and Referral for Energy Services). Jim Jacob, NJ SHARES executive director welcomed Chivukula's measure as a life-sustaining initiative. He said it would be the highest-ever annual funding to be received by the non-profit. "This bill provides a critically needed safety-net for moderate and fixed incomes individuals and families across New Jersey. Without this assistance, thousands of families may have no lights, be unable to cook or have to go without hot water or heat. Our neighbors should not have to choose between food and heat or taking life-sustaining medication," Jacob said. Last year, while NJ SHARES helped 12,300 households keep their lights on or pay for basic heat and hot water, more than 15,000 families were turned away due to a lack of funding. In the first five months of 2009, the non-profit received more than 15,000 requests for financial assistance.      "The economic downturn has caused a surge in applications for financial assistance by households," Chivukula said. "This legislation could be the difference between paying for food or basic heat and hot water. It is a life-sustaining measure."              The measure (A-616) is also sponsored by Assemblymen Vincent Prieto (D-Hudson) and Wayne P. DeAngelo (D-Mercer).Since its inception in 1998, NJ SHARES has assisted more than 150,000 households in crisis with energy assistance grants state wide in excess of $52.5 million. The program is designed to help working poor, middle and fixed income households that do not quality for federal and state energy assistance under programs such as LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) or USF (Universal Service Fund).The committee substitute of the measure was released by the Assembly Telecom and Utilities panel on Thursday, June 4 in a 4 to 1 vote with one abstention. ###     Contact: Gita Bajaj (973) 224-4851 cellular