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December 2007

Ohio's Assistance Programs Help People Stay Connected to Heat

Heating costs are predicted to increase this winter. In Ohio, there are several programs available to assist consumers in paying their winter heating bills.

Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is a federally funded program that helps income-eligible consumers at or below 175 percent of the federal poverty guidelines pay for their heating costs. Consumers can use this program one time per heating season. Administered by the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD), HEAP covers consumers who heat their homes with electric, natural gas or bulk fuel. The application deadline is May 30, 2008.

The Winter Crisis Program, formerly known as E-HEAP, provides assistance once per heating season to eligible households that are disconnected, threatened with disconnection, or have less than a ten day supply of bulk fuel. The program allows them to have service restored during the winter months. As an added safeguard for low-income customers, their service cannot be disconnected if they have an appointment scheduled to apply for the Winter Crisis Program. In that case, disconnection occurs only if consumers miss their scheduled appointment.

Winter Crisis Program applications are accepted through March 31, 2008, and must be completed at the local community action agency. Consumers should call for an appointment and be prepared to show income documentation for all household members at the time of application.

Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) is an extended payment arrangement for income-eligible customers of regulated electric and natural gas utilities. Eligible consumers must be at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty guideline. Most utility companies are required to accept payment based on a percentage of the household's income. Consumers are eventually responsible for paying the total balance of what they owe when they leave the PIPP program.

Consumers can contact their area agency on aging (AAA) at 1-866-243-5678 to receive more information about these assistance programs and applications. AAAs also help individuals, including homebound individuals, complete the application, assemble the necessary accompanying documentation and get it in the mail.

In addition, consumers can save by working directly with their utility companies:

• Budget billing programs allow consumers who are current on their payments to spread the amount they owe over a 12-month period. Consumers should contact their utility company to inquire about how to participate.
• Payment plans can often be worked out between the consumer and the utility when the consumer faces disconnection. Consumers propose a payment plan that works best for them. If the company finds the proposed payment plan not acceptable, it must provide an option of participating in either the 1/3 payment plan (where customers pay 1/3 of the total amount due each month, which includes their past due balance and current bill) or the 1/6 payment plan (where customers pay 1/6 of the balance amount in addition to paying the full amount of the current bill).

The majority of Ohio's local telephone companies offer Lifeline programs. Under Lifeline, fees to establish service are waived. Consumers also receive a discount off the monthly basic local charges in addition to other benefits determined by each company. Most households that qualify for HEAP are automatically eligible for Lifeline, as are any households that are at or below 150 percent of the poverty level.

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