Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)
The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is a federally funded program that provides eligible Ohioans assistance with their home energy bills. This one-time benefit is applied directly to the customer’s utility bill or bulk fuel bill.
Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP)
The Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) helps eligible Ohioans manage their energy bills year- round. Payments are based on a percentage of household income and are consistent year-round.
How does PIPP work?
If your home is heated with gas, you will have a monthly payment of 5% of your gross household income for your natural gas bill, and 5% of your gross household income for your electric bill. If you heat with electric, your monthly payment is 10% of your gross household income. The balance of your utility bill is subsidized by the state of Ohio. There is a minimum monthly payment of $10.00.
Paying on-time and in-full each month reduces your outstanding balance. If you make 24 on-time and in-full payments, your outstanding balance with your utility company will be eliminated.
Once you are enrolled in the PIPP program, you are required to re-verify your income each year. You must also be caught up on all your PIPP payments by your Anniversary Date, which is the date you signed up for PIPP. Failure to report changes in the household income or household members, missing a payment, or not re-verifying your income can result in being dropped from the program.
The Home Energy Assistance Summer Crisis Program provides a one-time benefit to eligible Ohioans with cooling assistance during the summer months. The program runs from July 1 to September 30.
The focus of the Summer Crisis Program is to provide assistance with electric utility bills, central air conditioning repairs, and air conditioning unit and/or fan purchases. Households with a household member who is either 60 years of age and older, has a certified medical condition, and households who have a disconnect notice, have been shut off, or are trying to establish new electric service may be eligible for assistance. Ohioans enrolled in the Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus (PIPP) Program are eligible for assistance towards their default PIPP payment, first PIPP payment, central air conditioning repairs, or may receive an air conditioning unit and/or fan.
The Home Energy Assistance Winter Crisis Program (HEAP Winter Crisis Program) helps income eligible Ohioans that are threatened with disconnection, have been disconnected, need to establish new service, need to pay to transfer service, have PIPP default, need to pay first PIPP, or have 25% (or less) supply of bulk fuel in their tank maintain their utility service.
The program runs from November 1, 2023 until March 31, 2024. Ohio households serviced by a Public Utilities Commission of Ohio-regulated utility must sign up for the Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus (PIPP) or another payment plan if there is still an outstanding balance on the bill after receiving assistance.
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Income Guidelines:
(HEAP, PIPP, Summer Crisis, Winter Crisis)
12-Month Income Limit:
| Number of Household Members | Total Household Income- 12 months |
| 1 | $23,782.50 |
| 2 | $32,042.50 |
| 3 | $40,302.50 |
| 4 | $48,562.50 |
| 5 | $56,822.50 |
| 6 | $65,082.50 |
| 7 | $73,342.50 |
| 8 | $81,602.50 |
For households with more than eight members, add $8,260 for each additional member.
A household applying for HEAP must report total gross household income for the past 30 days (12 months preferred) for all members, except wage or salary income earned by dependent minors under 18 years old. Both homeowners and renters are eligible for assistance.