New Jersey's statewide Summer Termination Program has kept qualifying households connected to water, electric and sewer service since mid June. It expires August 31, and Trenton Water Works has already announced it will resume shutoffs September 1 for nearly 2,200 past-due accounts owing a combined $1.7 million. Here is what actually changes, who is protected, and what to do this week if a bill has fallen behind.
What the Summer Termination Program Actually Protects, and Why It's Ending
New Jersey's Summer Termination Program runs from June 15 through August 31 each year and prevents utilities from disconnecting electric, water and sewer service for qualifying residential customers during the hottest stretch of the year. Eligibility covers households already receiving help through programs like LIHEAP, TANF, SSI, PAAD, General Assistance or the Universal Service Fund, along with anyone who can document a hardship such as unemployment or illness.
New Jersey Board of Public Utilities President Christine Guhl-Sadovy has framed the program as protection during dangerous heat, not as debt relief. Once the calendar turns to September 1, that protection lapses statewide, and utilities are free to resume standard collections against any account that stayed delinquent through the summer.
Trenton Water Works' Numbers Show What 'Resuming Collections' Actually Looks Like
Trenton Water Works announced on August 8 that it will resume service terminations for eligible delinquent accounts beginning Tuesday, September 1, and continuing through November 15. The utility says roughly 2,192 residential and commercial accounts are more than 90 days past due, representing close to $1.7 million in unpaid charges combined.
Chief of Communications Michael Walker urged residents "struggling to pay their water bill" to reach out now rather than wait. Customers can call Customer Care at 1-866-TWW-BLUE to discuss a payment arrangement, and Trenton is offering extended in-person hours at its Cortland Street office for anyone who would rather work it out face to face.
This Isn't Only a Trenton Problem
The Summer Termination Program itself is a statewide NJBPU policy, not a Trenton-specific one, and it covers electric, water and sewer accounts at every New Jersey utility, municipal or investor owned. Trenton Water Works is simply the utility that has published exact numbers so far. Any NJ water provider, including the private utilities that serve much of Plumbarama's own coverage area, can resume normal collections activity against delinquent accounts once the statewide protection period ends on the same date.
Pennsylvania does not run an identical seasonal shutoff moratorium in the same statewide form, but PA utilities and county assistance offices operate their own hardship and payment plan programs year round. A past due balance in Pennsylvania is handled case by case rather than on a fixed summer to fall calendar, which makes calling the utility directly even more important there.
What To Do This Week If a Water Bill Has Fallen Behind
The single most useful move is contacting the utility before September 1 rather than after a shutoff notice arrives. Most water providers, Trenton Water Works included, would rather set up a payment arrangement than send a crew to disconnect service, but that only works if the customer reaches out first.
NJ SHARES offers income-qualified grants that can be applied directly toward a past due water, electric or gas bill, and local organizations such as Arm In Arm, Catholic Charities and HomeFront provide additional emergency assistance in the Trenton area specifically. None of these programs help retroactively once a shutoff has already happened, so the value is entirely in acting during the days that are left before the deadline.
Where a Plumber Fits Into a Bill You're Struggling To Pay
A past due balance sometimes traces back to more water use than a household realizes, a toilet that runs longer than it should, a slow leak buried under a slab, or a water heater working overtime because of sediment buildup. None of that shows up as an obvious problem indoors, it just shows up as a higher number on the bill every month.
Before committing to a payment plan sized around a bill that might be artificially inflated, it is worth having a licensed plumber check for hidden leaks and confirm the water heater and fixtures are actually running efficiently. Plumbarama's NJ and PA technicians can do that kind of inspection on a normal service call, and the 24/7 line is there for anything that cannot wait for regular hours.
Source: Trenton Water Works announcement, August 8, 2026, and NJ Board of Public Utilities Summer Termination Program notice, June 18, 2026.
6 Things To Do Before NJ and PA Water Shutoffs Resume
Whether the account in question is with Trenton Water Works or another NJ or PA utility, these steps matter most in the days before enforcement resumes.
- Call your utility this week, not on September 1: Utilities generally prefer a payment arrangement over a disconnection, but that option only exists if a customer reaches out before the deadline, not after a notice arrives.
- Confirm your account's actual status: Do not assume you are covered by the Summer Termination Program or that you are already past the 90 day threshold. Ask the utility directly where your account stands.
- Apply to NJ SHARES if you may qualify: NJ SHARES provides income-based grants that can be applied directly toward a past due water, electric or gas bill, and the application can be started before a shutoff happens.
- Reach out to local assistance organizations: Groups like Arm In Arm, Catholic Charities and HomeFront offer emergency utility assistance in the Trenton area, and similar nonprofits operate in other NJ and PA counties.
- Get a leak and water heater check before setting a payment plan: A payment plan sized around a bill inflated by a hidden leak or an inefficient water heater means overpaying every month after the balance is settled.
- PA customers should not assume a matching moratorium applies: Pennsylvania does not run the same statewide summer shutoff protection, so any past due PA account should be addressed directly with the utility or a county assistance office rather than waiting for a fixed date.
Frequently asked questions
- Does the end of the Summer Termination Program mean my water gets shut off automatically on September 1?
- No. Only accounts that are seriously delinquent, generally more than 90 days past due, are eligible for disconnection, and utilities still have to follow required notice steps first. Paying down a balance or setting up a payment arrangement before September 1 can prevent it.
- Is this only a Trenton Water Works issue?
- No. The Summer Termination Program is a statewide New Jersey Board of Public Utilities policy covering electric, water and sewer customers everywhere in the state. Trenton Water Works has simply published specific numbers so far. Any NJ utility can resume collections once the statewide protection period ends August 31.
- What if I cannot pay my full past-due balance by September 1?
- Contact your utility immediately to ask about a payment arrangement, and look into NJ SHARES or a local assistance nonprofit. These programs are built for households that reach out before a shutoff happens, not after.
- Does Pennsylvania have the same seasonal shutoff protection?
- Not in the same statewide form. PA utilities and county assistance offices run their own hardship and payment programs year round, so Pennsylvania customers behind on a water bill should contact their utility directly rather than assume a matching moratorium applies.