Utility Assistance OLD

Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)

The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) targets these households (175% of the Poverty Level) who are experiencing energy instability.  The Ohio Development Services Agency, Office of Community Assistance funds HEAP. In 2019, HEAP staff provided financial and budget assistance to Franklin County households in need. There were 6,510 Winter Crisis Program applicants (Gas, electric, propane, wood, coal in crisis and/or furnace repair.).  We helped 831 Summer Crisis Program applicants. (60 years or older, medical letter of need and/or air conditioner ore central air repair.) We processed 11,152 HEAP applications. (A primary heat utility vendor payment). To maintain utility stability we assisted 14,616 Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP PLUS) an income based budget program that targets low-income households (150% of the Poverty Level) who have regulated utility vendors for their households. (6% for gas and electric or 10% of all electric households last 30 days of income.).

Summer Crisis Program

The Summer Crisis Program (SCP) is for electric utility assistance only and is for households that include a person 60+ years, customers with a household member who has a qualifying medical condition or households served by a non-regulated utility with disconnect notice. The maximum amount for bill payment assistance and/or air conditioner is $300 for regulated utilities and $500 for non-regulated utilities.

To qualify for the Summer Crisis Program, households must be at or below a gross annual income of 175% of the federal poverty level and meet one of the following criteria:

• A member has an illness that would benefit from assistance, verified by physician documentation.
• A member is sixty years or older.
• Household is served by a non-regulated utility with disconnect notice.

You do not have to be enrolled in PIPP to be eligible for the Summer Crisis Program. You do not need a disconnect notice to be eligible for the program.

The benefits of the Summer Crisis Program include the provision of one window air conditioning unit per household (for households that do not have central air and have not received an air conditioning unit in the past three years {2017, 2018, 2019), repair of  your central air conditioner unit  (see SCP flyer on link for amount.) and/or a one-time payment of up to $500 on the electric bill for regulated utilities and $800 for non-regulated utilities.)

Medical eligibility for any SCP assistance is needed for anyone under the age of 60. You must have written documentation: a prescription from your doctor, Nurse Practitioner, or you can make an appointment with our Lung Health Clinic (Monday or Wednesday).

Bring with you:

• Anyone under the age of 60 must have a prescription or doctor’s statement, SIGNED and DATED by the doctor or nurse practitioner, issued within the past year prior to Summer Crisis appointment.
• Gross income for the last 30 days. (Earned income for anyone 18 years and older and all unearned income for all household members.)
• Picture I.D.
• Social Security Number for all household members.
• Proof of Citizenship or Proof of Legal Resident/Qualified Alien (may use social security card).
• Bring current electric and gas bill regardless of status.
• If permanently disabled, verification of your disability (example: social security disability award letter)
• Seasonal/self-employment needs proof of 12 months of income.
• Documentation of co-pay to the utility company, if required. Verification of payment of reconnection fee, if required.

2020 -2021 Federal Poverty Guidelines listed below:

Neighborhood location visits are by appointment only. For households with more than eight members, add $7,735 to verify yearly income or $644.58 to the 30-day income for each additional member.

Winter Crisis Program

The emergency Winter Crisis Program is accepting applications for assistance from November through May 1, 2020. This program provides assistance once per heating season to:

• Eligible households that are disconnected, threatened with disconnection, need service, transferring utility service or have less than a 25% supply of bulk fuel.
• Households serviced by a PUCO-regulated utility may also sign up for the Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) Plus in addition to receiving emergency benefits.
• Bulk fuel users must have less than a 25% supply of bulk fuel in order to be eligible.

Emergency HEAP can also help pay for heating system repairs (furnace repair) up to $500 in certain cases.

All PIPP applications do not have to be completed in person. Please call our office for more information.

Appointments:

What to bring to your appointment:

• Picture I.D.
• Social Security cards for all household members.
• Proof of Citizenship or Proof of Legal Resident/Qualified Alien (may use social security card).
• Proof of all income for the past 30 days or (in some cases) twelve months must be presented at time of application for all household members, except wage income earned by dependent minors under the age of 18.
• The gas and electric bill, regardless of status and/or your bulk fuel invoice or bill.
• If disabled, you must submit proof of disability.
• Seasonal/self-employment needs proof of 12 months of income.
• If you are required to make a copayment, you must bring verification of that payment. If your AEP electric service is off and a reconnection fee is needed, you will need a receipt to show you paid the reconnection fee.

Winter Crisis Program Eligibility Requirements:

Households with a gross income at or below 175% of the federal poverty guidelines are eligible for the Emergency Program. A household whose total income during the past three months is equal to or less than the following maximums may be eligible:

For households with more than eight members, add $7,735 to verify yearly income or $644.58 to the 30-day income for each additional member.

Percentage of Income Payment Plan – PIPP Plus

PIPP Plus is an extended payment arrangement that requires regulated gas and electric companies to accept payments based on a percentage of the household income. In Franklin County, the three regulated utility vendors are American Electric Power (AEP), Columbia Gas, and Ohio Edison.

Under PIPP Plus, if you heat with gas or electric, you pay 6% of your monthly household income. If you heat and cool with electricity, you pay 10% of your monthly household income.

To be eligible for the PIPP Plus program, a customer must receive primary or secondary heat from a company regulated by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) and have a total household income at or below 150% of the 2020-2021 federal poverty guidelines.