(Camden, NJ) – Governor Phil Murphy signed Executive Order No. 229 today, extending a moratorium preventing New Jersey residents from having their utilities disconnected through at least June 30, 2021. The moratorium was previously set to expire on March 15, 2021. The moratorium applies to all residential gas, electric and water utilities, both public and private. Further, the utilities will not be permitted to charge late fees nor fees to reconnect services that have been disconnected.
“The economic effects of this pandemic have been devastating for individuals and families throughout the state and here in Camden County. Extending the utility shutoff moratorium ensures that no one is left without necessary resources amidst this crisis,” said County Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli, Jr. “If you are facing economic insecurity as a result of the pandemic, make sure you are aware of when these extensions will expire and how it may affect you.”
The moratorium extension also applies to cable and telecommunications providers, which are prohibited from disconnecting Internet service in households that have one or more school-age children that may be using such service for educational purposes. Also, if a household experiences a change of circumstances where school age children will be using their home Internet service for school, the cable and telecommunications company will be required to reconnect that Internet service.