NJ Natural Gas Halts In-Person Payments, Shutoffs For Now

WALL, NJ — New Jersey Natural Gas has stopped accepting in-person payments for natural gas bills and is waiving late fees through April 15 to limit exposure for employees and customers to the new coronavirus.

Customers who usually pay their bills in person are being urged to use other options, including online bill payment on the company's website; payments over the phone at 800-221-0051; or by mailing the payment to the company. There also are secure dropboxes at the company's payment facilities.

The company also has temporarily suspended service disconnections. That policy and the closure of the payment centers to the public is in effect until further notice.

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"The health and safety of our customers and employees are the most important considerations for our company," said Steve Westhoven, president and CEO of New Jersey Resources, the parent company. "Given the evolving public health response, we will continue to closely monitor all developments and take appropriate steps to protect public health."

Customers who want to mail their payments should send them to:

• New Jersey Natural Gas Co., PO Box 11743, Newark, NJ 07101-4743

Customers who are faced with a hardship or need help paying their bill should call the company at 800-221-0051.

As of Tuesday afternoon, there were 267 positive tests for COVID-19 in New Jersey, and three people have died from it, according to the state health department.

COVID-19 is caused by a member of the coronavirus family that's a close cousin to the SARS and MERS viruses that have caused outbreaks in the past. Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

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