Need Help with Your Electric Bill? JCP&L Makes it Easy to Apply for the Universal Service Fund

Rhea-AI Summary

JCP&L (NYSE: FE) is offering free, in-person help for customers who want to apply to the Universal Service Fund (USF), a year-round New Jersey program that provides monthly bill credits and a possible one-time account balance elimination through the USF Fresh Start Program. The Energy Assistance Outreach Team will assist eligible households with applications and paperwork.

A free assistance event will be held Dec. 4, 2025, 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. at Country Lakes Firehouse, 103 Firehouse Rd., Browns Mills, NJ; community partners and program resources will be available. More info at firstenergycorp.com/USF.

News Market Reaction

-2.70%

1 alert

-2.70% News Effect

On the day this news was published, FE declined 2.70%, reflecting a moderate negative market reaction.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Key Figures

Event date: Dec. 4, 2025 Event hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Event address: 103 Firehouse Rd. +5 more

8 metrics

Event date Dec. 4, 2025 Free JCP&L utility assistance event in Burlington County

Event hours 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Duration of the Burlington County assistance event

Event address 103 Firehouse Rd. Country Lakes Firehouse (Station 3), Browns Mills, NJ

Income threshold 60% of state median Gross income limit to qualify for USF

Bill share (non-heat) 2% of annual income Electricity cost threshold for non-electric-heat households

Bill share (electric heat) 4% of annual income Electricity cost threshold for electric-heat households

Customers served 1.1 million Number of JCP&L customers in New Jersey

Transmission lines 24,000 miles Miles of transmission operated by FirstEnergy subsidiaries

Market Reality Check

Price: $47.37 Vol: Volume 4,857,013 is very ...

normal vol

$47.37 Last Close

Volume Volume 4,857,013 is very close to the 20-day average of 4,835,812, suggesting typical trading activity before this announcement. normal

Technical Shares traded above the 200-day MA of 42.75 with a prior close of 44.08, indicating a modestly constructive longer-term trend pre-news.

Peers on Argus

FE was down 0.83% while peers showed mixed, mostly small moves (e.g., AEE -0.49%...

FE was down 0.83% while peers showed mixed, mostly small moves (e.g., AEE -0.49%, ES -0.49%, EIX +0.38%, PPL +0.45%, WEC -0.11%), pointing to stock-specific rather than broad sector dynamics.

Common Catalyst Only one peer, EIX, had news on the day, focused on a commemorative clean-energy leadership story, with no clear shared catalyst across the group.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Dec 05 (Neutral)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Dec 05	Debt exchange offer	Neutral	-0.5%	Exchange of <b>4.750%</b> senior notes due 2033 for registered notes.
Dec 01	Grid investment update	Positive	-2.7%	Announced <b>$368 million</b> LTIIP III grid upgrades under <b>$28 billion</b> program.
Dec 01	Education grant	Positive	-2.7%	FirstEnergy Foundation awarded a <b>$10,000</b> grant to York College.
Dec 01	Customer assistance event	Positive	-2.7%	JCP&L promoted free help applying for New Jersey’s Universal Service Fund.
Nov 20	Solar operations update	Positive	+0.7%	Mon Power used <b>350</b> sheep to manage vegetation at a solar site.

Pattern Detected

Recent operational and community-focused news has often been followed by modest price declines, with only one of the last five items showing a positive next-day move despite generally constructive narratives.

Recent Company History

Over the last few weeks, FE news has centered on infrastructure investment, community support and operational initiatives. On Nov 20, solar grazing at a West Virginia site coincided with a small gain. On Dec 1, grid upgrades and community assistance, including this JCP&L USF help event, were followed by declines of about 2.7%. A $10,000 education grant and a later $450 million notes exchange also saw mild weakness. This announcement fits the pattern of customer-support and reliability messaging within that broader operational theme.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement highlights JCP&L’s support for New Jersey customers through the Universal Service ...

Analysis

This announcement highlights JCP&L’s support for New Jersey customers through the Universal Service Fund, including a free assistance event on Dec. 4, 2025 and ongoing outreach from its Energy Assistance Outreach Team. It fits a broader pattern of community and reliability initiatives across FE’s territories. Investors may watch how such programs interact with regulatory decisions, customer affordability trends, and the company’s long-term infrastructure and earnings guidance already detailed in recent SEC filings.

Key Terms

universal service fund, supplemental nutritional assistance program

2 terms

universal service fund financial

"help customers apply for the Universal Service Fund (USF) – a program designed"

A universal service fund is a government- or regulator-run pool of money collected from telecom companies or subscribers to help pay for basic communications services in rural, low-income, or otherwise underserved areas. It matters to investors because rules about who pays into the fund, how much is collected, and which companies receive support can change costs, revenues, and competitive balance for service providers — like a communal utility fee that can either raise expenses or provide steady support.

supplemental nutritional assistance program regulatory

"New Jersey Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP)"

A supplemental nutritional assistance program is a government-run benefit that gives eligible low-income households funds or vouchers to buy food, effectively acting like a grocery gift card paid by the state. Investors watch these programs because they boost spending at grocery stores, food manufacturers and distributors, and can stabilize consumer demand during economic downturns, affecting revenues and supply-chain dynamics across the food sector.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

Company hosting free assistance event in Burlington County on Dec. 4

MORRISTOWN, N.J., Dec. 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- With many households facing financial challenges, Jersey Central Power and Light (JCP&L), a FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) company, is here to help. JCP&L's Energy Assistance Outreach Team (EAOT) provides personalized support to eligible customers applying for the Universal Service Fund (USF) – a program designed to lower monthly electric bills.

JCP&L's EAOT is a dedicated team that connects customers with bill assistance programs and partners with local organizations to raise awareness about available resources. EAOT will work directly with eligible customers to help them complete and submit USF applications. To get help, customers can attend a local utility assistance event or contact EAOT directly at firstenergycorp.com/USF.

Doug Mokoid, President, FirstEnergy New Jersey: "We understand many customers are concerned about home energy costs. We want them to know that JCP&L has their back! Our Energy Assistance Outreach Team can help customers get back on track and keep their homes comfortable." 

What is USF? 

USF is a year-round statewide program designed to help low- to moderate-income households manage their energy costs. Eligible customers receive monthly credits to make their energy bills more affordable, and qualifying participants may benefit from a one-time elimination of their account balance through the USF Fresh Start Program.

To qualify, a household must:

• Have a gross income at or below 60% of the state median income level.
• Pay more than 2% of its annual income for electricity if it does not have electric heat, or more than 4% of its annual income on electricity if it uses electric heat.

Applying for USF

Customers can visit firstenergycorp.com/USF to schedule a session with a team member to learn more about USF and receive dedicated help completing and submitting their application.

Burlington County Assistance Event

JCP&L is hosting a free utility assistance event in Burlington County on Dec. 4, 2025. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Country Lakes Firehouse (Station 3) located at 103 Firehouse Rd., Browns Mills, NJ 08015.

EAOT team members will be on hand to assist customers with applying for USF and to provide information about additional bill assistance programs and payment plans.

Community partners will also be at the event help provide support and answer questions regarding assistance programs, including:

• New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
• New Jersey Department of Community Affairs
• New Jersey Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP)
• BoldAge PACE
• Community Affairs and Resource Center (CARC)
• Comfort Partners
• Light Up Your World
• O.C.E.A.N., Inc.
• Pinelands Family Success Center
• SHARES

Customers may also visit firstenergycorp.com/billassist to learn about additional bill assistance programs or to see if they qualify for a payment arrangement. 

JCP&L serves 1.1 million New Jersey customers in the counties of Burlington, Essex, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren. Follow JCP&L on X @JCP_L, on Facebook at facebook.com/JCPandL or online at jcp-l.com.    

FirstEnergy is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. The company's transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Follow FirstEnergy online at firstenergycorp.com and on X @FirstEnergyCorp.  

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/need-help-with-your-electric-bill-jcpl-makes-it-easy-to-apply-for-the-universal-service-fund-302629208.html

SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.

FAQ

What is the Universal Service Fund (USF) and who is eligible in New Jersey for FE customers?

USF is a year-round New Jersey program that gives monthly bill credits to low- to moderate-income households; eligibility requires gross income at or below 60% of state median and paying above specified electricity-cost thresholds.

When and where is JCP&L's free assistance event for USF applications on Dec. 4, 2025?

The event is Dec. 4, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Country Lakes Firehouse (Station 3), 103 Firehouse Rd., Browns Mills, NJ 08015.

How can FE customers schedule one-on-one help applying for USF if they cannot attend the Dec. 4 event?

Customers can schedule a session or request assistance online at firstenergycorp.com/USF to get dedicated help completing and submitting their application.

What documentation or criteria should FE customers have ready to apply for USF?

Applicants should be prepared to provide household gross income information and account and address details to demonstrate income eligibility and electricity-cost thresholds.

Does qualifying for USF include relief for past-due balances for JCP&L (FE) customers?

Qualifying participants may be eligible for a one-time elimination of their account balance through the USF Fresh Start Program.