Ørsted and NJ SHARES Announce New Emergency Assistance Program

Atlantic City, NJ (February 26, 2020) – Ørsted, the global leader in the development of offshore wind, and New Jersey SHARES (NJ SHARES), a nationally recognized nonprofit organization providing statewide help, guidance and referral for essential services to New Jersey residents in need of temporary assistance, have partnered to develop and launch a new emergency assistance program for electric customers in Atlantic, Cape May and Ocean counties.

Funded through a two-year, $200,000 grant from Ørsted, the developer of Ocean Wind, the state’s first offshore wind farm to be built 15 miles off the southern New Jersey coastline, Ørsted CARES, (Customer Assistance & Response to Emergency Situations), provides financial assistance for electric customers facing a financial crisis.

The program offers grants of up to $200 to eligible residents twice a year toward payment of electric service for limited income households.
“We are pleased to assist NJ Shares with financial support that will help the organization alleviate some of the financial burden facing residents of Atlantic, Cape May and Ocean Counties who have encountered difficulty paying their energy service bills,” said Thomas Brostrøm, CEO of Ørsted U.S. Offshore Wind and President of Ørsted North America. “This partnership enables us to help fulfill NJ Shares’ mission that is focused on helping New Jersey residents in need,” he added

“NJ SHARES is a leading advocate for the energy insecure in New Jersey and it is our mission to provide help and guidance to those in need throughout the state,” said Cheryl B. Stowell, CEO of NJ SHARES. “The Ørsted CARES Grants Program was specifically designed for those facing energy-related hardships in Atlantic, Cape May and Ocean counties – providing direct, immediate assistance to households facing an emergency or unexpected financial crisis. We are excited for our partnership with Ørsted and look forward to utilizing our combined professional expertise to assist individuals and families in need living in the communities we serve.”

To qualify for Ørsted CARES, applicants must first meet the following eligibility requirements:
• Reside in Atlantic, Cape May or Ocean County
• Have arrears on their electric bill
• Have an active residential electric account
• Have an income level that does not exceed 400% of the Federal Poverty Level

Eligible electric customers can submit applications for Ørsted CARES beginning March 1 online at www.njsharesgreen.org or by visiting one of NJ SHARES’ partner agencies in Atlantic, Cape May or Ocean counties, calling 1-866-700-2332 or e-mailing orstedcares@njshares.org.
Those interested in learning more about the program and its qualifications are encouraged to contact NJ SHARES, program administrator, at 1-866-700-2332 or online at orstedcares@njshares.org.

About Ørsted U.S. Offshore Wind
Ørsted U.S. Offshore Wind delivers clean, renewable energy along the U.S. Eastern Seaboard. It operates the Block Island Wind Farm, America’s first offshore wind farm, and has been awarded over 2,900 megawatts of capacity through six projects. It is jointly headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts and Providence, Rhode Island and employs more than 150 people.

About Ørsted
The Ørsted vision is a world that runs entirely on green energy. Ørsted develops, constructs and operates offshore and onshore wind farms, solar farms, energy storage facilities and bioenergy plants and provides energy products to its customers. Ørsted ranks #1 in Corporate Knights’ 2020 index of the Global 100 most sustainable corporations in the world and is recognized on the CDP Climate Change A List as a global leader on climate action. Headquartered in Denmark, Ørsted employs 6,500 people. Ørsted’s shares are listed on Nasdaq Copenhagen (Orsted). In 2019, the Group’s revenue was DKK 67.8 billion (EUR 9.1 billion). Visit orsted.com or follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter.

About New Jersey SHARES (NJ SHARES)
New Jersey SHARES, Inc. (NJ SHARES) is a nationally recognized 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that provides statewide help and referral for essential services to those in need of assistance. NJ SHARES serves as a “safety net” for households that face an emergency or crisis situation resulting in the household’s inability to pay for vital services, including but not limited to energy (gas, electric), water, communications and other environmental resources. NJ SHARES partners with more than 300 social service agencies and legislative offices, operating out of more than 325 sites statewide to provide relief to individuals and families in need of assistance. To learn more, visit www.njshares.org.

Media Contacts:
Gabriel Martinez, Ørsted North America
Gamar@orsted.com
978-447-2301

Liz Thomas, New Jersey SHARES
liz@thomasboyd.com