Otis Singleton
If you're struggling to pay your electricity bill in Ohio, there are several assistance programs available to help. These include the federal HEAP program, which offers a once-yearly benefit to help pay off electric or gas bills for eligible customers. Ohio also has its own Electric Residential Low-Income Pilot Program, which offers reduced rates to eligible low-income customers. Additionally, the Electric Partnership Program (EPP), established under Ohio's 1999 electric restructuring legislation, aims to reduce electric consumption by households participating in the Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP). Customers who qualify for PIPP pay a set percentage of their monthly income for gas and electricity, and those who make timely payments for 24 months can have their total balance eliminated. For those facing difficulty paying their AEP Ohio bill, the American Electric Power Neighbor to Neighbor Program offers utility assistance grants that are applied directly to the bill. Finally, Duke Energy HeatShare assists those struggling with heating bills during the winter season, while the Ohio Edison Project Reach provides financial assistance to disabled, unemployed, or low-income customers facing overdue energy bills. Each program has its own eligibility criteria and application process, so be sure to review the requirements carefully before submitting your application.
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What You'll Learn
- PIPP: Pay 5% of monthly income for gas and electricity
- HEAP: A federal program offering yearly benefits to help pay electric/gas bills
- EPP: Reduce electric consumption through audits and weatherization programs
- Duke Energy HeatShare: Assistance for those facing disconnection of service
- Ohio Edison Project Reach: Financial aid for disabled/unemployed/low-income customers facing disconnection
PIPP: Pay 5% of monthly income for gas and electricity
The Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) allows eligible Ohioans to pay just 5% of their monthly income for gas and electricity. If a home is heated by electricity, the customer pays 10% of their monthly income for electricity, with a minimum of $10. PIPP is available to Ohioans who rent or own their homes and who make less than 175% of the 2024 federal poverty guidelines, which for a family of four is $54,600 or less.
To apply for PIPP, you can apply by mail, online at energyhelp.ohio.gov or with a local Energy Assistance Provider. In Cuyahoga County, that’s Step Forward or CHN Housing Partners. Customers will have to fill out the application, which is available in English or Spanish, and provide the following:
- Most recent gas and/or electric bills
- List of people who live in the home and their birth dates and Social Security numbers
- Proof of income, such as paycheck stubs, for anyone in the house who is over 18 and working
- Proof of citizenship or legal residency for all household members. Acceptable documents include a birth certificate, Social Security card, voter registration card or passport
- Proof of income for the last 30 days for people who live in the home, except for minors
There are also other programs that can help with electricity bills in Ohio. The Electric Partnership Program (EPP) is targeted at high-consumption, high-arrears PIPP households. It is composed of a baseload efficiency program that audits lighting, appliances and all other uses of electricity not related to heating, and a weatherization program for those who heat with electricity and who have moderate to high usage. The American Electric Power Neighbor to Neighbor Program sees AEP Ohio and Dollar Energy Fund team up to assist low-income AEP Ohio customers who have difficulty paying their electric bill. Eligible customers will receive a utility assistance grant applied directly to their AEP Ohio bill. The Ohio Edison Project Reach provides once-a-year financial assistance to disabled, unemployed or low-income customers who might lose electric service because of overdue energy bills.
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HEAP: A federal program offering yearly benefits to help pay electric/gas bills
The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is a federal program that offers yearly benefits to help eligible Ohioans pay their electric or gas bills. HEAP is only available for private gas or electric customers, although Cleveland Public Power does accept HEAP payments.
To be eligible for HEAP, your household income must be at or below 175% of the 2024 federal poverty guidelines, which is $54,600 for a family of four or no more than $4,550 in a 30-day period. These guidelines are valid through March 2025.
The Summer Crisis program requires that you have a household member who meets one of the following criteria:
- Your household has received a disconnect notice
- Your household has been shut off from your utility service
- Your household is trying to establish new electric service
The Winter Crisis program has additional requirements:
- Your household has been disconnected from your utility service
- Your household has less than a 25% supply of bulk fuel in your tank
To apply for HEAP, you can contact your local Energy Assistance Provider. In Cuyahoga County, this is Step Forward or CHN Housing Partners. You can also apply online at energyhelp.ohio.gov or by mail. The required paperwork includes:
- Your most recent gas and/or electric bills
- A list of people who live in your home, along with their birth dates and Social Security numbers
- Proof of income for the last 30 days for everyone in your home over the age of 18 who is working (paycheck stubs, etc.)
- Proof of citizenship or legal residency for all household members (birth certificate, Social Security card, voter registration card, passport, etc.)
In addition to HEAP, there are other programs that can help with electric and gas bills in Ohio:
- The Electric Partnership Program (EPP) is targeted at high-consumption, high-arrears households that participate in the state's Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP). It includes a baseload efficiency program that audits lighting, appliances, and other electricity uses, and a weatherization program for those with moderate to high electricity usage for heating.
- The Ohio Electric Residential Low-Income Pilot Program offers assistance to customers at or below 200% of the federal poverty guideline who are not enrolled in PIPP.
- The American Electric Power Neighbor to Neighbor Program assists low-income AEP Ohio customers with a utility assistance grant applied directly to their bill.
- Duke Energy HeatShare assists those in need with heating bills during the winter season. Eligibility is based on the risk of disconnection of service and does not necessarily follow government assistance guidelines.
- Ohio Edison Project Reach provides financial assistance to disabled, unemployed, or low-income customers at risk of losing electric service due to overdue energy bills.
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EPP: Reduce electric consumption through audits and weatherization programs
The Electric Partnership Program (EPP) was established in Ohio under the 1999 electric restructuring legislation and is funded by the electric universal service rider. The program aims to reduce electricity consumption among households participating in the state's Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP). The EPP specifically targets high-consumption, high-arrears PIPP households.
The EPP consists of two types of programs: a baseload efficiency program and a weatherization program. The baseload efficiency program involves auditing lighting, appliances, and other electricity uses excluding heating, and implementing appropriate measures. This can include replacing old, inefficient appliances with energy-saving alternatives.
The weatherization program is designed for households that heat with electricity and have moderate to high usage. This program includes adding insulation, performing heating system inspections, and addressing health and safety measures. For example, identifying and fixing potential hazards such as faulty wiring or gas leaks.
To apply for the EPP, you must first ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria. As mentioned earlier, the program is targeted at high-consumption, high-arrears PIPP households. If you are enrolled in PIPP, you can contact the Ohio Office of Energy Efficiency to inquire about the EPP. They will be able to provide you with specific application instructions and requirements.
Additionally, there are other programs available in Ohio to assist with electric bills. These include the HEAP program, which provides a once-yearly benefit to help pay off electric or gas bills. The Summer and Winter Crisis programs are also available for households facing disconnection or those trying to establish new electric service.
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Duke Energy HeatShare: Assistance for those facing disconnection of service
Duke Energy has a number of programs to help those facing disconnection of service. One such program is the Winter Reconnect Program, which allows most households that have been disconnected or are at risk of disconnection due to non-payment of a utility bill to restore service during the winter months. To take advantage of this program, eligible households can pay either the total amount owed or $175 (whichever is less), plus a reconnection fee of no more than $20. This program is available through April 15 and has no income eligibility requirement.
For income-eligible households, the Emergency Home Energy Assistance Program (E-HEAP) can provide funds for the $175 payment. Additionally, the Ohio Energy Credit (OEC) Program offers increased energy assistance benefits to customers who are 65 years of age or older, or totally and permanently disabled.
Duke Energy also offers a weatherization program for income-qualified customers who heat their homes with electricity and have moderate to high usage. This program includes services such as furnace or heat pump cleaning and tuning, energy-efficient light bulbs, energy-saving tips, and insulation improvements. Other possible services include hot water heater wraps, weather stripping, pipe wrap, duct sealing, and air leakage sealing.
To apply for assistance or learn more about these programs, customers can contact Duke Energy's customer service specialists, who are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET via chat or phone. Email inquiries are also an option, with a response time of 2 to 3 business days.
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Ohio Edison Project Reach: Financial aid for disabled/unemployed/low-income customers facing disconnection
Ohio Edison understands that customers may need help with home energy costs and offers a variety of programs to help them budget their monthly payments, pay winter heating bills, catch up on past-due payments, or avoid service disconnection.
The Ohio Edison Project Reach is a crisis-only assistance program that provides financial aid to disabled, unemployed, or low-income customers facing disconnection of their electric service due to overdue energy bills. The program is administered by the Salvation Army, which determines eligibility. The Salvation Army can be contacted for more information and to apply for assistance.
Project Reach is funded by donations from individuals, businesses, and employees of Ohio Edison. It provides one-off assistance to pay energy bills for eligible customers, including the disabled, elderly, and families facing a short-term emergency. The aim is to provide temporary support to customers facing a financial crisis, including those working full time or those who have had a reduction in hours. The assistance is limited and may not cover the entire bill but gives customers time to address the root cause of the emergency.
In addition to Project Reach, Ohio Edison offers other programs to assist customers facing financial difficulties. These include the Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus (PIPP Plus), which allows eligible customers to pay a percentage of their household income instead of the actual bill amount. There is also the Winter Crisis program, which helps with threats of disconnection, and the Summer Crisis program, which provides cooling assistance during the summer months. Customers can also arrange affordable installments to be paid with their monthly bill, and select a third party to be notified if their electric service is about to be disconnected.
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Frequently asked questions
HEAP is a federal program that provides a once-yearly benefit to help pay off electric or gas bills. To apply, contact your local Energy Assistance Provider. You can also apply online at energyhelp.ohio.gov or by mail.
PIPP is a program where customers pay a percentage of their monthly income for gas and electricity. To apply, contact your local Energy Assistance Provider or apply online at energyhelp.ohio.gov.
The Ohio Electric Residential Low-Income Pilot Program provides lower rates for eligible low-income electric customers. You can apply on Duke Energy's website or at their customer service office. The American Electric Power Neighbor to Neighbor Program assists low-income customers with utility assistance grants applied directly to their AEP Ohio bill. Contact AEP at 1-800-277-2177 to apply.
