Atlantic City Electric Cold Weather Relief
This winter, customers across South Jersey are seeing higher‑than‑usual energy bills driven by significantly colder weather and rising regional energy supply prices.
Colder Weather Drove Higher Energy Use
December 2025 – February 2026 were among the coldest winter months in the past decade, with heating needs rising sharply across the region. December 2025 was 23% colder than the 10‑year average and 22% colder than December 2024, while January 2026 was 21% colder than average and 8% colder than January 2025. The sustained cold required customer heating systems to run longer and increase energy use particularly when thermostat settings don’t change. Despite these conditions, Atlantic City Electric’s system performed reliably throughout several extended cold snaps.
What This Means for Customer Bills:
Prolonged cold means heating systems work harder and operate more often, directly increasing electric consumption. Even households with gas heat may see higher electric bills because HVAC systems rely on electric components such as blowers and circulation fans. These usage increases come on top of regional supply‑price pressures, where New Jersey residential electric bills rose 17–20% beginning in mid‑2025 due to PJM wholesale pricing trends.
Supporting Our Customer with Bill Assistance:
We’re here to support our customers who are challenged with these higher energy costs and higher than expected bills. We offer many programs to help customers manage higher winter bills:
Customer Relief Fund: Immediate help for customers facing unusually high bills or unexpected financial strain.
Universal Service Fund (USF): Reduces monthly energy bills for income‑eligible households.
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): Provides heating assistance and additional support during crisis situations.
New Jersey SHARES: One‑time assistance for moderate‑income households experiencing financial hardship.
Payment Arrangements & Budget Billing: Options to spread payments over time or level seasonal fluctuations.
Information about these and other assistance tools and programs can be found at atlanticcityelectric.com/assistance
Reducing Use Through Energy Efficiency:
Energy efficiency upgrades, such as weatherization, HVAC improvements, and appliance rebates, can help reduce long‑term usage. Simple actions like lowering thermostats, sealing drafts, and adjusting appliance and water‑heating habits can also help manage energy use during extreme weather.
Customers can learn more about energy efficiency, including simple low-cost and no-cost tips by visiting atlanticcityelectric.com/WaysToSave.
See additional resources from Atlantic City Electric below: