I've been searching online for information on avoiding electric utility shut off and have not really found to much. I'm not looking or asking for money here but a way to stop the shut off process. I go through this every other month and the stress it causes is getting harder to deal with. I make the money to pay my bill including the amount they add to pay off the past due balance but cannot get the money before the due date on the bill. Then the arrangement breaks and shut off proceedings start and they say I am not allowed another arrangement because of the broken ones.

I get paid twice a month and have to make a mortgage payment by a certain day of the month or my home goes into forclosure so I pay that first then when the next pay comes I pay the utility but it's normally after the due date. I call them to tell them it is going to be late and ask if this will break my payment arrangement and they say no just call with the reciept number. I pay the bill call them and they tell me I'm kicked off my payment arrangement. I'm trying to apply for Liheap and NJ shares but I'm sure I'll get turned down because I think I make a little more then the allowed amount for the number of people in the home. I would rather not apply since I can pay my bill and let someone who is worse off get the help but if I don't try I get shut off. I went through the BPU complaint process and one woman was very rude and no help at all. I just don't know of anything else I can do to stop this from happening every other month until I can afford to pay the past due balance off. So after this week if I can't prevent it some how I will not have electric either now, my gas has been off for a couple months now and will be for a while until I can take care of my electric bill.