Fram the Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel
Heating help is available for consumers in need
For residential utility consumers who are struggling to remain current with their monthly bills, the coming winter months can be especially worrisome.
Last winter was one of the coldest on record and some forecasters predict much of the same for the coming winter months.
A year ago, more than 200,000 Ohioans were disconnected from natural gas service for nonpayment.
There are a number of resources available to help residential consumers stay connected to utility service as the temperature drops. The Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC) has more details about the many federal and state assistance programs that can help consumers with their energy bills:
- Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP Plus)
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LiHEAP)
- Alternative Payment Plans
- Medical Certifications
Existing fuel funds also are available through local electric and natural gas utilities. OCC's fact sheet, Utility-funded Assistance Programs Available to Consumers, can be found at www.occ.ohio.gov or by calling 1-877-742-5622. The fact sheet provides specifics about utility-offered assistance, eligibility guidelines and telephone numbers to call for information.
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) has issued special reconnection procedures for the 2014-2015 winter heating season. The Winter Reconnection Order, which remains in effect until April 15, 2015, allows consumers to make a one-time payment of up to $175 to avoid being disconnected or to restore their disconnected utility service.
Some of the guidelines are:
- Customers who are currently disconnected or facing disconnection can have their electric and/or natural gas service restored or maintained by making a one-time payment of up to $175.
- If service has been disconnected, payment of a reconnection fee of no more than $36 can also be required. Some utilities charge reconnection fees of more than $36. In such cases, the balance of the fee may be billed to the customer in the following month.
- Customers must sign up for a payment plan to pay any remaining past-due balance on their utility bill. The PUCO requires the utilities to offer customers several different payment options.
- Customers must apply for assistance from the regular Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP). Households with incomes at or below 175 percent of the federal poverty guidelines ($41,213 gross annual household income for a household of four) may contact their local community action agency and use funds provided through the Emergency Home Energy Assistance Program (E-HEAP) to pay the $175.
- The $175 can be used to establish electric or natural gas service instead of the required security deposit. If the deposit is more than $175, the remaining balance will be added to the next month's bill.
- If customers owe past due amounts on both their natural gas and electric bills, the $175 can be divided between both utilities.
- Former Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP Plus) and Graduate PIPP Plus customers can take advantage of the Winter Reconnection Order to re-enroll or continue participation in the program. Those customers must pay the balance of any missed PIPP Plus or Graduate PIPP Plus payments that are more than $175 by the due date of the next bill.
Recent Comments