Behind on Your Atlantic City Electric Bill?
Atlantic City Electric serves more than half a million customers across the southern third of New Jersey, from Atlantic City and the shore towns through Cumberland, Salem, and Cape May counties. If you're behind and a shutoff is looming, filing bankruptcy stops it. We're local too, with an office in Egg Harbor Township.
Qualifying filers may be eligible for our $999 flat fee Chapter 7.
Shore-town incomes, year-round bills
A lot of South Jersey runs on seasonal work, and Atlantic City Electric bills don't take the winter off. New Jersey's winter and summer termination programs pause shutoffs for eligible customers who claim them, but the balance keeps growing underneath. Bankruptcy stops the termination under Section 366 of the Bankruptcy Code and can wipe out the past-due balance along with the rest of your unsecured debt.
Where ACE debt piles up
- Seasonal income that doesn't match year-round bills
- The winter program ended and the balance came due
- A payment arrangement that fell through mid-year
- Summer cooling bills on top of the old arrears
- A 10-day shutoff notice already in the mail
What bankruptcy can do
- Take a scheduled ACE disconnection off the calendar the day we file
- Clear the past-due ACE balance in a Chapter 7 discharge
- Stretch the past-due balance into one Chapter 13 plan
- Clear a balance that seasonal shore income never caught up to
- Handle arrears the summer termination program only paused from June 15 through August 31
Common questions about Atlantic City Electric Bill Debt
Is my town in Atlantic City Electric territory?
ACE covers the southern third of New Jersey, roughly eight counties including Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, and Salem, plus parts of Camden, Gloucester, Burlington, and southern Ocean County. It's electric only; gas in much of the same area comes from South Jersey Gas. Either way, the bankruptcy protections work the same.
The shutoff notice says I have 10 days. Is that enough time?
Usually, yes. New Jersey utilities must give at least 10 days' written notice, and shutoffs only happen Monday through Thursday during business hours. A bankruptcy filing stops the termination the moment it's filed. If your date is close, call us today.
Do the assistance programs help?
They can. LIHEAP, USF, Lifeline, and PAGE lower going-forward bills, and in New Jersey, proof that you've applied for help can be enough to get the power back on without paying a deposit or reconnection fee. What they don't do is erase a balance that's already out of reach. Bankruptcy handles the old debt.
Will ACE reconnect me after I file?
It can't hold your old balance against you, so Section 366 clears the way for reconnection. The line to keep straight is the split: power you use after filing is a fresh bill that has to be paid on time, while the pre-filing arrears go through the bankruptcy. A reasonable deposit for future service may be part of getting the lights back on, and we'll walk that through with you.