The summer of 2026 has been a hot one. There were several heatwaves since May. A heatwave is when the high temperature is 90 degrees or higher for three consecutive days.

For our area, the first heatwave occurred back in late-May, and the most notable heatwave was in early July. The early July heatwave had temperatures over 100 degrees.

With summer heat, many turn to air conditioning to stay cool. Running air conditioning means increased electric usage. With electric rates remaining elevated, residential electric bills have been expensive.

PSE&G notified customers via email on Thursday: "All residential electric customers will automatically receive a one-time $25 credit on their August bill. No action is required on your part."

According to the email, no action is required, and it appears that the bill credit will not need to be paid back, as was the case with one of last summer's bill credit programs.

For those facing difficulty in paying their utility bill, there are several assistance programs available that may be able to help offset the cost. Plus, some customers may qualify for shut-off protection during the summer months.

To view all options that your household may qualify for, visit PSE&G's Get Help Paying Your Bill website.